Mirabilis laevis (Benth.) Curran

Nomenclature and Classification

Mirabilis laevis, commonly known as the desert wishbone-bush, is a recently redefined species of flowering plant that belongs to the four o'clock family.

Geographic Distribution

This plant is distributed across the Southwestern United States and northwest Mexico.

Intraspecific Taxonomy Revision

Following its redefinition, Mirabilis laevis now includes the common California chaparral plant previously classified as a separate species Mirabilis californica (known as wishbone bush), as well as several other very similar close relatives that were also previously classified as separate species, and are now treated as varieties of Mirabilis laevis.