386 Nyctaginacece A bronia. 



1. A. umbellata. A trailing annual plant with oblong or 

 oval entire leaves on long petioles, and small pedunculate 

 heads of sessile rosy- pink flowers. A native of California. 



2. A. arenaria. An herbaceous perennial with cordate or 

 orbicular entire viscous leaves and capitate yellowish brown 

 flowers. Also from California. 



2. MIRABILIS. 



Showy tuberous-rooted perennials with jointed stems, oppo- 

 site simple leaves and showy flowers clustered towards the 

 extremities of the branches. Perianth tubular or funnel-shaped. 

 Stamens 5, cohering at the base in a ring, equalling or exceed- 

 ing the perianth. About half a dozen species are known, natives 

 of Central America and the West Indies. The name mirdbilis, 

 wonderful, was probably given to this genus because the Jalap 

 of commerce was believed to be the product of M. Jalapa. 



Fig. 207. Mirabilis Jalapa. (J nat. size.) 



1. M. Jalapa (fig. 207). Marvel of Peru. This familiar 

 plant is treated as an annual. There are numerous varieties 

 with white, yellow, crimson, or scarlet flowers, and others 







