Kingdom Plantae Family Nyctaginaceae Scientific name Mirabilis multiflora Rank Species | Order Caryophyllales Genus Mirabilis Higher classification Mirabilis | |
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Similar Mirabilis, Nyctaginaceae, Mirabilis longiflora, Mirabilis laevis, Mirabilis linearis | ||
Mirabilis multiflora is a species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family known by the common name Colorado four o'clock. It is native to the southwestern United States from California to Colorado and Texas, as well as far northern Mexico, where it grows in mostly dry habitat types in a number of regions. It is a perennial herb growing upright to about 80 centimetres (31 in) in maximum height. The leaves are oppositely arranged on the spreading stem branches. Each fleshy leaf has an oval or rounded blade up to 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long and is hairless or sparsely hairy. The flowers occur in leaf axils on the upper branches. Usually six flowers bloom in a bell-shaped involucre of five partly fused bracts. Each five-lobed, funnel-shaped flower is 4 to 6 centimetres (1.6 to 2.4 in) wide and magenta in color.
Uses
Among the Zuni people, the powdered root mixed with flour, made into a bread and used to decrease appetite. An infusion of the root is taken and rubbed on abdomen of hungry adults and children. An infusion of the powdered root is taken by adults or children after overeating.
