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Mirabilis jalapa L.

Synonym	:	Mirabilis jalapa var. jalapa
Family	:	Nyctaginaceae
Local name	:	English -  Four o’ clock plant Malayalam - Nalu-mani-chedi,  Pantheeradi
Flowering and fruiting period	:	August-April
Distribution	:	Native in Peru; now cultivated in all Tropical regions
Distribution in Kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Grown as garden plant and also found as escape
Endemic/Exotic	:	Exotic
Uses	:	The roots have aphrodisiac, diuretic and purgative properties. The leaves are used to reduce inflammation.
Key Botanical Characters:  Herbs with large tuberous roots; stem semisucculent. Leaves opposite, triangular-ovate, base obliquely truncate to shortly decurrent, apex acute to acuminate; lateral nerves 5-7 pairs; petiole to 3.5 cm long. Inflorescence of 3-7-flowered, terminal, capitate cluster. Perianth pink, white or yellow, funnel-shaped; tube to 4 cm long, slender, limb 5-lobed. Stamens 3-6, exserted. Ovary globose, subsessile; stigma shortly lobed or fimbriate. Anthocarp 4-6 mm across, globose, rugose, black when ripe.