Miracle flower

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Miracle flower
Miracle flower

Miracle flower

Systematics
Eudicotyledons
Nuclear eudicotyledons
Order : Clove-like (Caryophyllales)
Family : Wonderflower family (Nyctaginaceae)
Genre : Miracle flowers ( mirabilis )
Type : Miracle flower
Scientific name
Mirabilis jalapa
L.

The miracle flower ( Mirabilis jalapa ) is a species of the genus of the miracle flowers ( Mirabilis ) within the family of the miracle flower plants (Nyctaginaceae).

origin

The miracle flower originally comes from Central America (probably Mexico ). The first plants came to Europe in 1525. Today it is widespread in many tropical regions and is also valued in Europe as a (not hardy) ornamental plant.

description

The miracle flower is a perennial herbaceous plant that usually reaches heights of 1, rarely up to 2 meters. It forms root tubers as permanent organs. The simple leaves are 3.5 to 13 cm long and 2 to 8 cm wide. The petiole is about 4 cm long.

The inflorescences contain three to seven sessile flowers. The fragrant flowers open in the late afternoon, which earned it the name "four o'clock flower", and attract moths to pollinate . The flowers are 6.5 cm long and 2.5 to 3.5 cm wide. The funnel-shaped flowers fused petals can vary greatly (white, pink, red and yellow, and color transitions), so the plant Wunderblume was called at a plant in color. The five to six stamens are 2.75 to 6 cm long. The ovary is 1 to 1.5 mm long and the style is 4 to 6.5 cm long. The red-violet and yellow pigments of the flowers belong to the betalaine pigment group .

The seeds are not quite the size of a pea, can germinate for up to 3 years, have a small crater-shaped opening and are shaped like egg hand grenades .

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 54 or 58.

use

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

In times of hunger, the leaves are eaten cooked. The bulbous roots of the miracle flower have a laxative effect.

Others

The biologist Carl Correns used the miracle flower as a model organism for demonstrating the rules of inheritance (uniformity of the hybrids, division in the following daughter generations).

The miracle flower was alternatively referred to as Swiss trousers in historical works .

photos

Mirabilis jalapa :

  • Flowers and leaves

  • blossoms

  • fruit

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ M. Piattelli, L. Minale, RA Nicolaus: Pigments of centrospermae — V .: Betaxanthins from Mirabilis jalapa L. In: Phytochemistry . tape 4 , no. 6 , January 1, 1965, ISSN  0031-9422 , p. 817-823 , doi : 10.1016 / S0031-9422 (00) 86258-5 ( sciencedirect.com [accessed June 27, 2020]).
  2. ↑ Mirabilis jalapa at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
  3. ↑ Entry in Plants for a Future.
  4. ↑ Johann Volkmar Tickler: Handicraft garden lexicon for inexperienced in gardening and owners of small gardens . Erfurt 1811, p. 272 f . ( Google Books ).

Web links

Commons : Wunderblume ( Mirabilis jalapa )  - album with pictures, videos and audio files