Mirabilis longiflora
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Mirabilis longiflora, also known as the sweet four o'clock[1] or the long-flowered four o'Clock,[2] is a species of flowering plant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The flowers open in the late afternoon and bloom through the night, hence the name.
Description
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It is a herbaceous, tender perennial species that grows up to 150 cm high (5 feet). It has upright, thin stems that branch densely from the base. Petiolate leaves between 6 and 11.5 cm long and 3 to 7 cm wide in ovate or lanceo-ovate shape, bright green in color.
Inflorescences
The inflorescences are terminal or axillary, very compact, with linear and foliar bracts. The involvements are bell-shaped, 1 to 1.5 cm long, with unequal triangular or slightly lanceolate lobes. The flower has a perianth 8 to 17 cm long, 5 stamens, brush-shaped stigma. The fruit is an elliptical or oblong dark-colored achene about 8 mm long by 5 mm wide.
Flower colour is white to pinkish with a reddish or purplish throat. This species is a nocturnal flowerer, whose long, narrow, strongly-scented, tubular flowers (approaching 17 centimeters in maximum length) exhale a fragrant aroma at nights.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Native to southwestern United States, from Arizona to Texas and northern Mexico, it is found in scrubby canyons and riverbanks.[2]
Gallery
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Flower detail
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Grown in clumps at the University of Latvia Botanical Garden
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Emerging flower
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Long tubular flowers
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As a rock garden plant on raised a garden bed
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References
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- ↑ Template:PLANTS
- ↑ a b c Mirabilis longiflora Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 8 April 2024.