What is "mirabilis jalapa"

Jalap \Jal"ap\, n. [F., fr. Sp. jalapa; -- so called from Jalapa, a town in Mexico, whence it was first obtained.] (Med.) The tubers of the Mexican plant Ipom[oe]a purga (or Exogonium purga) of the family Convolvulaceae, a climber much like the morning-glory. The abstract, extract, and powder, prepared from the tubers, are well known purgative (cathartic) medicines, and are also called jalap. Other species of Ipom[oe]a yield several inferior kinds of jalap, as the Ipom[oe]a Orizabensis, and Ipom[oe]a tuberosa.

False jalap, the root of Mirabilis Jalapa, four-o'clock, or marvel of Peru.

marvel of Peru \marvel of Peru\, marvel-of-Peru \marvel-of-Peru\ n. (Bot.) A common garden plant ( Mirabilis jalapa or Mirabilis uniflora) of North America having fragrant red or purple or yellow or white flowers that open in late afternoon; called also four-o'clock. See four-o'clock.

Syn: common four-o'clock, marvel of Peru, Mirabilis jalapa, Mirabilis uniflora.

Mirabilis jalapa, the marvel of Peru or four o'clock flower, is the most commonly grown ornamental species of Mirabilis plant, and is available in a range of colours. Mirabilis in Latin means wonderful and Jalapa is a common placename in Central and North America. Mirabilis jalapa was cultivated by the Aztecs for medicinal and ornamental purposes. It is also said to have been exported from the Peruvian Andes in 1540.