ALLIONIACEAE 405 
which is free from or adnate to the pericarp. Endosperm variable. Embryo 
Straight or curved. 
Herbs: embryo hooked. 
Involucre conspicuous, of 3-5 or more distinct or united bracts. 
Involucre calyx-like, the bracts united. 
Involucre unchanged in fruit. 
Involucre accrescent, becoming membranous and reticulated. 
Involucre of 3-5 or more distinct bracts. 
Stigmas capitate : stamens exserted. 
Involucre of 3 bracts, 3-flowered : stamens 4. 3. WEDELIA. 
Iuvoluere of many bracts, many-flowered : stamens 5. 4. NYCTAGINIA. 
Stigmas elongated: stamens included. 5. ABRONIA. 
Involucre wanting or imperfect, 2 or 3 bractlets to each flower. 
. MIRABILIS. 
. ALLIONIA. 
noe 
Inflorescence capitate. 6. ACLEISANTHES. 
Inflorescence paniculate. 7. BOERHAAVIA. 
Shrubs or trees: embryo straight. 8. PISONIA. 
1. MIRABILIS L. 
Perennial glabrous or glandular herbs, with large tuberous-thickened roots and fork- 
ing stems. Leaves opposite : blades somewhat fleshy, petioled, or the upper sessile. Flower 
solitary or many flowers in a 5-lobed calyx-like involucre. Calyx colored : tube elongated, 
constricted above the ovary : limbexpanding, deciduous. Stamens 5-6, unequal in length : 
filaments filiform, very slender, incurved, united into a fleshy cup at the base. Style fili- 
form. Fruit ribbed, leathery or parchment-like, glabrous or pubescent. Seed filling the 
pericarp to which the testa adheres. Endosperm mealy. FovR-o'cLock. 
Involucre 1-flowered. 
Calyx 10-15 cm. long; tube long-tubular: plant viscid-pubescent. 1. M. Wrightiana. 
Calyx 3-5 em. long; tube funnelform: plant not glandular. 2. M. Jalapa. 
Involucre 3-6-flowered. E 
Calyx 4-6 em long: involucre 1 em. long ; lobes shorter than the tube. 3. M. multiftora. 
Calyx 1.5-2 em. long: involucre 1.5-2 em. long; lobes longer than the tube. 4. M. coccinea. 
1. Mirabilis Wrightiàna A. Gray. Foliage more or less viscid-pubescent. Stem 
erect, diffusely branched, 3-6 dm. tall: leaf-blades ovate, acuminate, 4-10 cm. long, 
glandular-pubescent on both sides, undulate, truncate or cordate at the base ; petioles less 
than 4 as long as the blades : involucres campanulate, 8-9 mm. high, densely glandular when 
young, 1-flowered ; lobes lanceolate, acute: calyx tubular, trumpet-shaped, 10-15 cm. 
ong, white or pink ; lobes notched : stamens exserted : fruit ovoid, about 1 cm. long, at- 
tenuate at the apex, pubescent, transversely wrinkled and longitudinally 5-ribbed. 
Chiefly in valleys, Texas to Arizona. Spring to fall. 
2. Mirabilis Jalápa L. Foliage deep green, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Stem 
erect, 3-7 dm. tall, much branched : leaf-blades ovate or sometimes as broad as long, long- 
acuminate or short-acuminate, sometimes sparingly ciliate, entire, truncate or cordate at 
the base; petioles about 3 as long as the blades: involucres campanulate, 7-8 mm. high, 
pubescent, 1-flowered ; lohes ovate-lanceolate, twice as long as the tube, acute, bristle- 
tipped: calyx trumpet-shaped, 3-5 cm. long, deep red to purple or white, more or less 
blotched, the edge notched : stamens exserted : fruit ovoid, black, 8-10 mm. long, wrinkled- 
tuberculate, 5-ribbed. 
On plains and prairies, Texas, through Mexico to Central and South America. Spring and summer. 
.. 3. Mirabilis muitifldra ( Torr.) A. Gray. Foliage more or less pubescent. Stem 
-diffusely branched, 3-7 dm. tall, the branches often stout: leaf-blades broadly ovate or del- 
toid, commonly as broad as long, 3-8 cm. long, acutish or slightly acuminate, undulate, 
rounded or subcordate at the base; petioles less than } as long as the blades: involucres 
campanulate, 1.5-2 cm. long, usually 6-flowered, minutely pubescent; lobes ovate, shorter 
than the tube, acute: calyx purplish or pink, 4-6 cm. long, trumpet-shaped : fruit oval, 
7-8 mm. long, obtuse at each Ax E slightly ribbed. 
In valleys, Colorado to Texas and California. Spring to fall. 
.4. Mirabilis coccinea (Torr.) Benth. & Hook. Foliage nearly glabrous, except in 
the inflorescence, glaucous. Stems sometimes tufted, 2-5 dm. tall, forked, very finely striate : 
leaf-blades narrowly linear, 4-7 cm. long, acute, involute, ciliate or glabrate : involucres 
about 1 cm. broad, pilose ; lobes ovate, acute or short-acuminate, usually 3-flowered : calyx 
crimson, trumpet-shaped, 1.5-2 cm. long, sparingly pubescent; tube gradually enlarged ; 
lobes of its limb notched : stamens mostly 3, about as long as the calyx : ovary pubescent, 
‘strongly ribbed : fruit oblong or slightly broadened upward, 5-6 mm. long, with rough or 
‘tuberculate prominent ridges. 
On plains and prairies, southern Texas to New Mexico and Mexico. Spring. 
