Flower ID: IMG_0359.JPG-06-06-2018 Flower name (scientific): Mirabilis nyctaginea (André Michaux) MacMillan PY: 1892. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) mih-RAB-ih-liss (or mir-AB-il-is or mi-RAB-il-is) nik-ta-JIN-ee-a (or nyk-ta-JEE-nee-ah) Flower name (common): Wild Four O'Clock Family name (common): Four O'Clock Family name (scientific): Nyctaginaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From scientific Latin, for wonderful, extraordinary. Specific epithet: From the Latin for night-flowering, originally from Greek. Common name origin: From the habitat and from the fact that the flowers open in late afternoon. The flowers usually wither or drop the following morning. Flower description: Size: 0.3 to 0.5 inches (8 to 13 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: pink Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 12 to 36 inches (30 to 91 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, ovate-lanceolate to ovate or triangular (FNA), cordate, upper leaves lanceolate (IL). Shape: leaf, ovate-lanceolate to ovate or triangular (FNA), cordate, upper leaves lanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, fields, streambanks, disturbed areas, roadsides, sun, dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Mirabilis nyctaginea can be distinguished from the related species Mirabilis albida (Hairy Four O'clock) by the typically brighter pink flowers and the mostly hairless leaves and stems, whereas Mirabilis albida has white to pale pink flowers and fairly hairy stems and hairy leaves mostly along the leaf underside principal veins. Ethnobotany: The Chippewa used this plant to treat sprains or strained muscles (Densmore, p. 362, 1928). Densmore usess the old synonym name Allionia nyctaginea for this plant. The Meskwaki employed the plant for bladder issues (Smith, p. 232, 1928). Smith uses the old synonym name Oxybaphus nyctagineus with the specific epithet given as nyctaginea, for this plant. The Ojibwa utilized the plant to treat sprains and swellings (Smith, p. 375, 1932). The Cherokee, Pawnee, Ponca, and Sioux all used the plant to treat ailments (Moerman, pp. 344-345, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Allionia nyctaginea André Michaux Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 100. 1803. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): UPL Wetland Status (MW): UPL