Mirabilis alipes (S.Watson) Pilz

Nomenclature and Common Name

Mirabilis alipes (S.Watson) Pilz is a flowering plant species in the four o'clock family, commonly called winged four o'clock.

Native Range and Habitat

It is native to the southwestern United States, ranging from eastern California to western Colorado, where it grows in habitats including brush, woodland, and dry mountain slopes.

Growth Habit and Size

This perennial herb grows in a clump reaching roughly 40 centimeters (15 3/4 inches) tall, and can grow up to 80 centimeters (31 1/2 inches) wide.

Leaf Arrangement

Leaves are arranged oppositely along its spreading stem branches.

Leaf Characteristics

Each fleshy leaf has an oval or rounded blade up to 7 to 9 centimeters (2 3/4 to 3 1/2 inches) long, and may be hairless or sparsely hairy.

Flower Arrangement

Flowers grow in the leaf axils of the upper branches.

Flower Involucre

Five to nine flowers bloom from a cup-shaped involucre made of several partially fused bracts.

Flower Size and Color

Each five-lobed flower is around 1.5 centimeters (5/8 inch) wide, and is typically magenta in color; cream-colored variants of this flower are also recorded.