Mirabilis multiflora

(Torrey) A. Gray in W. H. Emory

in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 173. 1859.

Common names: Colorado four-o’clock Froebel’s four-o’clock
Illustrated
Basionym: Oxybaphus multiflorus Torrey Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 2: 237. 1827
Synonyms: Quamoclidion multiflorum (Torrey) Torrey ex A. Gray
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 45. Mentioned on page 40, 43.

Herbs, forming hemispheric clumps 6–10 dm diam., glabrous or densely pubescent. Stems 4–7 dm. Leaves spreading; petioles of proximal leaves 2–4 cm; blades of midstem leaves ovate to widely ovate, sometimes suborbiculate, rarely reniform, 5–10 × 4–8 cm, base rounded to cordate, often asymmetric, apex acute or acuminate to obtuse, rarely rounded. Involucres: peduncle 4–75 mm; involucres erect or ascending, 33–35 mm; bracts 5, usually more than 50% connate, apex acute to obtuse or ovate. Flowers 6 per involucre; perianth magenta, funnelform, 2.5–6 cm. Fruits brown to black, with 10 slender, tan ribs alternating with 10 dark-brown ribs, or ribs inconspicuous, ovoid or globose, 6–11 mm, smooth to rugulose, glabrous or pubescent, secreting mucilage or not when wetted. 2n = 66.

Distribution

V4 84-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Colo., N.Mex., Nev., Tex., Utah, n Mexico

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

G. E. Pilz (1978) recognized three partially sympatric varieties based on presence or absence of mucilage production in the fruits, fruit color, and apical acuteness of involucral bracts. Overall, populations are poorly differentiated, and in some areas plants represent a “collage” (Pilz’s term) that combine characteristics of different varieties; S. L. Welsh et al. (1987) recognized no varieties. Mirabilis multiflora is used in the Southwest in a minor way in xeriscapes. Among indigenous peoples, it has been used as food and medicine (V. L. Bohrer 1975; L. S. M. Curtin 1947).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Fruits tuberculate, mucilaginous when wetted; involucral bracts obtuse Mirabilis multiflora var. glandulosa
1 Fruits smooth to slightly tuberculate, not mucilaginous when wetted; involucral bracts acute > 2
2 Fruits dark brown to black, ribs inconspicu- ous Mirabilis multiflora var. multiflora
2 Fruits light brown, with 10 slender, tan, longitudinal ribs alternating with 10 brown, often interrupted ribs. Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens

"broader" is not a number."thin" is not a number."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

... more about "Mirabilis multiflora"
acute;obtuse or ovate +
Richard W. Spellenberg +
(Torrey) A. Gray in W. H. Emory +
glutinous +
rounded +  and cordate +
constricted +
woody +, leathery +  and fleshy +
Oxybaphus multiflorus +
undulate;plane;linear;ovate or more or less round +
persistent +
corollalike +  and petaloid +
bracteate +  and naked +
hemispheric +
Colorado four-o’clock +  and Froebel’s four-o’clock +
subsessile +  and sessile +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, N.Mex. +, Nev. +, Tex. +, Utah +  and n Mexico +
curved +  and straight +
inconspicuous +  and showy +
cleistogamous +, chasmogamous +  and bisexual +
brown +  and black +
ovoid +  and ellipsoid +
tubular +  and bell--shaped +
not accrescent +
3.3 cm33 mm <br />0.033 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
herbaceous;papery +
sessile +  and petiolate +
distributed +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
unequal +
5-lobed +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
sinuate +  and entire +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (7.5 cm75 mm <br />0.075 m <br />) +
chasmogamous +  and cleistogamous +
5-lobed +, flared +, campanulate +  and tubular +
constricted +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. +
alternating +
dark-brown +  and tan +
inconspicuous +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
smooth +  and rugulose +
globose +  and ovoid +
slender +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
coriaceous +
thick +  and thin +
cylindric +
membranaceous +
ribbed +, 10-ribbed +  and 5-ribbed +
pubescent +, glabrous +  and warty +
wrinkled +
Illustrated +
decumbent +, ascending +  and erect +
fusiform +  and linear +
filiform +
not +  and mucilaginous +
puberulent +  and glabrous +
rugulose +  and smooth +
Quamoclidion multiflorum +
ropelike +  and swollen +
Mirabilis multiflora +
Mirabilis sect. Quamoclidion +
species +
gland-tipped +
expanded +
pubescent +  and glabrous +