Mirabilis Jalapa, The Marvel Of Peru Or Four O`clock Flower Royalty-Free Stock Photography

Mirabilis jalapa, the marvel of Peru or four o`clock yellow flowers with tiny green leaves and blurred natural background.The yellow variety, as the plant matures, it can display flowers that gradually change to a dark pink colour. Flowers are not formed from petals – rather they are a pigmented modification of the calyx. Similarly, the `calyx` is an involucre of bracts. The flowers are funnel-shaped and pentalobed, they have no cup replaced by bracteal leaves but are made of a corolla. The flowers usually open from late afternoon or at dusk namely between 4 and 8 o`clock, giving rise to one of its common names. Flowers then produce a strong, sweet-smelling fragrance throughout the night, then close for good in the morning. New flowers open the following day. This plant is also known as Belle de Nuit.