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Glite Dictionary
Mirabilis jalapa

Mirabilis jalapa

9.0
A garden plant with fragrant, colorful flowers that open in the late afternoon, often called four o'clock
  • noun
  • /mɪˈræbɪlɪs dʒəˈleɪpə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Mirabilis jalapa
  • The Mirabilis jalapa blooms beautifully in my garden.

Examples

  • Gardeners often choose Mirabilis jalapa for its ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

  • Children love watching the colorful flowers of Mirabilis jalapa open as the sun sets.

  • We planted Mirabilis jalapa in our backyard to enjoy its fragrant blossoms every afternoon.

  • The Mirabilis jalapa opens its flowers late in the afternoon.

  • The beautiful blooms of Mirabilis jalapa are often seen in gardens, releasing their fragrant scent just as the sun begins to set.

  • In the warm evenings, the Mirabilis jalapa flowers open to display their vibrant colors and fill the air with a sweet aroma.

  • Gardeners love to plant Mirabilis jalapa for its unique ability to brighten up their yards with colorful blooms that open late in the day.

Synonyms

four o'clock
vsMirabilis jalapa
7 7.7

A garden plant with colorful, fragrant flowers that open in the late afternoon

is the single species specifically described rather than the genus group
common four-o'clock
vsMirabilis jalapa
  • US
7.9

A garden plant with scented flowers that open late afternoon

is the species native to tropical America rather than named for North American use
marvel-of-Peru
vsMirabilis jalapa
9.9

A garden plant with fragrant, colorful flowers that open in late afternoon

is the species name used more formally and stressing origin
jalapa
vsMirabilis jalapa
  • Archaic
9.9

A garden plant with bright tube-shaped flowers whose dried root was used as a strong laxative

focuses on the living ornamental species not its medicinal root use

Surface Forms

Mirabilis jalapa singular
Mirabilis jalapas plural

Morphology

Mirabilis + jalapa

This is a binomial Latin plant name whose parts both denote plant-related concepts, so a learner who knows the constituents could infer it refers to a plant (and, given 'Mirabilis', possibly evening-blooming habit). However, as a fixed scientific name with specialized usage (and the common name 'four o'clock' and precise cultural/phenological details are lexicalized), the full meaning is not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Mirabilis jalapa has a name that gives a simple picture: mirabilis means 'wonderful' and its flowers open each late afternoon like a small surprise, so people call it 'four o'clock'. So today the name refers to a garden plant with fragrant, colorful blooms that open in the late afternoon.