MARVEL OF PERU 237 



MAKVEL OF PERU. 



MIRABILIS. 



NICTAGINE^. PENTANDRIA MONOGYxMA- 



So named from the wonderful diversity of colours in the flowers. 

 " Every thing from the New Continent," says Mr. Martyn, " was at 

 first esteemed wonderful." — Frenchyhelle de nuit [beauty of the night] ; 

 admirable de Perou ; merveille de Perou ; jalap faux [false jalap]. — 

 Italian, fior di notte [night flower] ; maraviglia del Peru ; sciarappa. 

 Spanish, Don Diego de noche. 



The IVIarvel of Peru, though first brought to us from 

 that place, is also a native of Africa, China, the East and 

 West Indies. The colours vary from white to red, pur- 

 ple, yellow, red and yellow, purple and yellow, purple and 

 white, &c.; sometimes all these colours are seen in the 

 same plant ; which, being very full of blossom, has a hand- 

 some appearance. It flowers in July, August, September, 

 and, in mild seasons, October. In warm weather the 

 flowers do not open till the evening ; but when the weather 

 is cool, or the sun obscured, they will open in the day- 

 time ; its hours of rest being exactly the reverse of — 



" Those flowers that turn to meet the sun-light clear. 

 And those which slumber when the night is near." 



H. Smith. 



The Japanese ladies prepare, from the meal of the 

 seeds, a white paint for their faces. 



The Forked Marvel of Peru is a native of Mexico; it 

 is very similar to the former species, but the flowers are 

 smaller, and do not vary in their colour, which is a red- 

 purple, or rather a purple-red. It is very common in all 

 the islands of the West Indies, where it is called Four- 

 o'clock-flower, from the flowers opening at that time of the 

 day. 



