416 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



numerous names. Doubtless considerable variation is exhibited by cultivated 

 plants, although these are not apparent in the rather scanty herbarium specimens 

 made from such material. The color of the perianth is one of the most variable char- 

 acters, ranging through purplish red, white, and yellow, and variegated forms com- 

 bining these colors. 



It was formerly believed that the home of the plant was Peru, whence one of its 

 common names, "marvel of Peru." Heimerl inclines to the belief that the species 

 is native of southern Mexico. From all reports it certainly seems to be indigenous in 

 that region. In other parts of Mexico it has escaped from cultivation. In southern 

 Texas and perhaps in Florida the plant appears to be native, while in other parts of 

 the United States it is merely an escape. 



The specific name ot jalapa was given to the plant because it was believed that its 

 root furnished the jalapa of commerce. This medicinal substance instead is supplied 

 by the root of a plant of a different family. One of the most commonly cultivated 

 ornamental plants of Mexico, the species is there known under several common names, 

 maravilla, arrebolera, Don Diego de noche, and trompetilla. 



5a. Mirabilis jalapa odorata (L.) Heimerl, Bot. Jahrb. Engler 21: 616. 1896. 



Mirabilis odorata L. Cent. PI. 1: 7. 1755. 



Mirabilis dichotoma L. Sp. PI. ed. 2. 252. 1762. 



Jalapa undulata Moench, Suppl. Meth. PI. 196. 1802. 



Nyctago hortensis J uss.; Roem. & Schult. Syst. Veg. 4: 1. 1819, as synonym. 



Nyctago dichotoma Juss.; Roem. & Schult. Syst. Veg. 4: 1. 1819, as synonym. 



Mirabilis parviflora Targ.-Tozz.; Steud. Nom. Bot. 535. 1821, as synonym. 



Mirabilis divaricata Lowe, Trans. Cambridge Phil. Soc. 17. 1831. 



Mirabilis procera Bertol. Nov. Comm. Acad. Bononiensis 3: 15. pi. 1. 1839. 



Mirabilis divaricata uniflora Choisy in DC. Prodr. 13 2 : 428. 1849. 



Mirabilis jalapa procera f hoisy, loc. cit. 



Type locality, "Habitat in America." 

 Specimens examined: 



Guatemala: Escuintla, 1890, J. D. Smith 2019; Coban, Alta Verapaz April 



1889, /. D. Smith 1731. 

 Salvador: Renson 195. 

 Costa Rica: Paraiso, San Jose, 1896, /. D. Smith 6737. 



The form is hardly worth maintaining even as a Bubspecies. Some of the speci- 

 mens seem fairly distinct irom M. jalapa, but all sorts of intermediate forms can be 

 found, some of which can be referred equally well to the type or the subspecies. 

 The latter is the common form of the West Indies. Ramirez and Alcocer give as 

 the common names arrebohra, maravilla, maravilla silvestre. 



6. Mirabilis longiflora L. Vet. Akad. Handl. 176. pi. 6.f. 1. 1755. 

 Jalapa longiflora Moench, Meth. PI. 508. 1794. 

 Nyctago longiflora DC. & Lam. Fl. Franc. 3: 426. 1805. 

 Mirabilis suaveolcns H. B. K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 2: 213. 1817. 

 Type locality, Mexico. 



Specimens examined: 



Puebla: Vicinity of San Luis Tultitlanapa, June, 1908, Purpus 3374. 



Oaxaca: Oaxaca, August 15, 1899, Conzatti 973. 



Morelos: Barranca near Cuernavaca, alt. 1,530 meters, July 27, 1896, PrinaU 



6377. 

 Chihuahua: Gallejo Spring, 1846, Wislizenus 122. 

 Federal District: Ixtaccihuatl, 1903, Purpus 49. 

 Vera Cruz: Esperanza, alt. 2,460 meters, August 14, 1891, Seaton 493. 

 Guanajuato: Guanajuato, 1880, Dugte, 



