Mirabilis jalapa
John Grimshaw (Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:50:28 PDT)
Tsuh Yang wrote about Mirabilis jalapa;
some plants produce both yellow and pink/magenta flowers. at first, i
thought they were different plants, but actually they were from the same
one. has anyone seen this before?<
The production of multi-coloured flowers from the same plant is the reason
why Mirabilis is called that - mirabilis translates as marvellous,
wonderful, or amazing. It may be a shortened form of Admirabilis, which was
also in use for it in the 1500s & 1600s. The English name Marvel of Peru was
attached by about 1600.
With its diversity of colours it is easy to see why the Spanish
conquistadors noticed it and brought it back from the Americas at an early
date. Then its free-seeding enabled its rapid distribution in European
gardens where one can imagine how greatly its abundance of bright flowers
enlivened the scene.
John Grimshaw
Dr. John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 9NP
Tel. 01242 870567