Colorado four o'clock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colorado four o'clock |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mirabilis
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| Species: |
multiflora
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The Colorado four o'clock (scientific name: Mirabilis multiflora) is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the four o'clock family. You can find this plant growing naturally in the dry areas of the southwestern United States. This includes states like California, Colorado, and Texas. It also grows in the northern parts of Mexico.
About the Colorado Four O'Clock
The Colorado four o'clock is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It can grow to be about 80 centimeters (about 31 inches) tall. Its stems spread out, and its leaves grow opposite each other.
Each leaf feels a bit thick or fleshy. They are shaped like an oval or are rounded. These leaves can be up to 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. They are usually smooth or have only a few hairs.
Its Flowers
The flowers of the Colorado four o'clock grow on the upper parts of the branches. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Usually, six flowers bloom together. They are surrounded by five special leaves called bracts. These bracts are partly joined together and form a bell shape.
Each flower has five lobes, or sections. They are shaped like a funnel. The flowers are about 4 to 6 centimeters (about 1.5 to 2.5 inches) wide. They are a lovely bright magenta color.
Traditional Uses
The Zuni people, a Native American tribe, have traditionally used the root of the Colorado four o'clock plant. They would grind the root into a powder. This powder was sometimes mixed with flour to make a type of bread.
They also made a special liquid called an infusion from the powdered root. This infusion was used to help people feel more comfortable after eating a lot. It was applied to the stomach or taken as a drink.
How it Gets Pollinated
The Colorado four o'clock plant needs help to make seeds. It relies on special moths called hawkmoths for pollination. Pollination is how plants reproduce.
Two main types of hawkmoths help this plant. They are the Hyles lineata and the Manduca quinquemaculata. These moths visit the flowers, helping to carry pollen from one plant to another.
