NYCTAGINACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 213. 



MIRABILIS. 



Involucre like a calyx, 5-cleft, 1 -flowered. Calyx petaloid, 

 funnelshaped, hardened and permanent at the base. Stamens 5, 

 inserted into the base of the calyx. Stigma capitate. Fruit with 

 a membranous pericarp, enclosed within the hard tough perma- 

 nent base of the calyx. Embryo curved round central mealy 

 albumen. 



753. M. dichotoma Linn. am. ac. iv. 267. Wllld. i. 999. 

 Plenck. ic. off. t. 139. Jalapa officinarum Mart. cent. i. t. 1. 

 Nyctago dichotoma Juss. (Clus. hist. xc. 3.) Mexico. 



Stem erect, bushy, branching, tumid at the nodes. Leaves ovate- 

 oblong, acute, somewhat repand, smooth, with the petioles and margins 

 downy as well as the young shoots. Flowers sessile, axillary, erect, 

 solitary, with obtuse emarginate segments ; or clustered and terminal ; 

 very sweet at night. Calyx slender, pale red. The thick fleshy root 

 is purgative, and at one time was taken for the Jalap of the shops. 



754. M. Jalapa Linn. sp. pi 252. Bot. Mag. t. 371, a com- 

 mon border flower, with similar roots, is said by some not to be 

 purgative ; by others to be so, and to be used for adulterating 

 true Jalap. 



755. M. longiflora Linn, sp.pl. 252. Act. holm. 1755. p. 176. 

 t. 6. f. 1. Smith exot. hot. t. 23. Mexico, in the colder parts 

 of the mountains. (Marvel of Peru.) 



A prostrate, branching, downy plant. Leaves cordate, acute, nearly 

 or quite sessile, repand and wavy, viscid as well as downy. Flowers 

 clustered, sessile, white with a purple eye, very fragrant at night, at 

 which time they open ; the tube of the calyx exceedingly long and 

 slender. The root is said to be more purgative than that of any other 

 species. 



BOERHAAVIA. 



Involucre calyx shaped, turbinate, enveloping the fruit. Calyx 

 plaited, short and inconspicuous. Stamens 2, 3, 6, 12. Stig- 

 mas 3. Fruit composed of the hardened and permanent base of 

 the calyx, enclosing a thin 1 -seeded pericarp. 



756. B. decumbens Vahl. mum. i. 284. R. and S. i. 64. 

 B. paniculata Rich. act. soc. h. n. par. i. 105. B. laxa Pers. 

 synops. i. 36. B. diandra Aubl. guian. i. 4. Guiana, Santa 

 Cruz, Tortola. (Hogmeat.) 



365 



