Marvel of Peru; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandra class of plants.

The most remarkable species are,

1. The jalappa, or common marvel of Peru, hath a large, thick, fleshy root; an upright, thick, jointed stalk, dividing and branching numerously, widely, Mirabilis, and erectly, a yard or more high; garnished with oblong, broad, opposite leaves; and all the branches and shoots terminated by numerous flowers in clusters, of different colours in the varieties. Of this there are varieties with white flowers—with yellow flowers—with purple flowers—with red flowers—with white and yellow flowers—white and purple flowers—purple and yellow flowers—red and yellow flowers. Several other varieties often rise from seed; and it is remarkable that although several of the above colours and variegations are sometimes common to the same plant, yet it is rare that a plant of this species produces flowers of one of those colours alone; sometimes, however, the same plant will exhibit only white and purple flowers separate, and sometimes both colours in the same flowers, intermixed with the plain ones: the same is also observable in the red and yellow; others have plain flowers of several different colours, and sometimes variegated flowers also on the same plants. The root of this species was supposed to be the true officinal jalap, but which is since discovered to be the root of a species of convolvulus.

2. The longiflora, or long-flowered mirabilis, hath a large, thick, fleshy root; a thick stalk, dividing low into many decimated spreading branches, extending two or three feet every way; large, heart-formed, hairy, viscid leaves, in opposite pairs; and all the branches and shoots terminated by white flowers in clusters, having very long tubes, nodding downward.

3. The dichotoma, dichotomous, or forked mirabilis; hath a thick fleshy root; an upright, thick, swollen, jointed stem, branching forkedly two or three feet high; oblong opposite leaves; and smallish red flowers at the axillas, singly and close-fitting.

All these plants flower in July, continuing in plentiful succession until October, very conspicuous and elegant. They have the singularity of being shut all day, and expanding towards the evening when the sun declines; hence the inhabitants of the Indies, where they grow naturally, called them four o'clock flowers; their time of opening here, however, depends on the weather; for if cloudy, or that the sun is not very vehement, they often open great part of the day.

They are naturally perennial in root, which, however, if not preserved here in winter, prove but of one year's duration; but if sheltered from frost and wet during the winter season, they will remain alive, and shoot out strongly again in spring; in this country, however, the plants are commonly considered as annuals; because they rise from seed in the spring, and the same year produce flowers and perfect seed; and if left to nature in the open air, totally perish in winter, at the first attack of frost or excessive wet; but, as aforesaid, if in autumn, when the stalks begin to assume a state of decay, the roots are taken up, and preserved in sand in a dry room all winter, and planted again in spring, they shoot out afresh stronger than at first, and sometimes obtain four or five feet stature, with very spreading heads; or if plants growing in pots, having the stems cut down in autumn, and the pots placed in a greenhouse, or garden-frames under glasses, the roots may also be preserved sound, and will shoot out again in spring as above.

The roots generally become large, tuberous, and fleshy, covered with a dark rind.

All the species are of a tender nature, scarcely able to endure the open air here fully day and night, until May or June; that is, they being raised from seed in spring, chiefly in hot-beds under glasses, continued and forwarded there until the beginning of June, then fully exposed in the borders or pots, they become large branchy plants in July and August, and continue flowering until October or November, till prevented by the cold.

They are all elegant furniture for the principal compartments of the pleasure-ground, they being both very ornamental in their large branchy growth, closely garnished with leaves; and, by flowering so numerously, seem as if entirely covered with flowers, in constant plentiful succession from July till the beginning of winter, as aforesaid.

The roots of all these plants is a strong purgative, and given in a double quantity operate equal to the true jalap.

The propagation of all the species is by seed in the spring, either in a warm border, or in a hot-bed; but the latter will forward the plants to considerably the earliest and greatest degree of perfection.