Scientific Family
Nyctaginaceae
Synonyms
Allioniella oxybaphoides
Other common names
wild four o'clock
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2 feet
Riparian
No
Can be a spreading or erect plant, multi-branched and often forms clumps up to 4 feet in diameter.
Tubular flowers with 5 colored sepals and no petals. Bracts deeply 5 cleft and subtend more than 1 flower. Calyx is less than 1/2 inch long. Leaves heart-shaped at the base.
Habitat
Clearings, roadsides and dry hillsides.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Montane Conifer Forest
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
6000
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers up to 3/8 inch long. Funnel-shaped with notched lobes. Has 3 flowers within hairy bracts and 3 or 4 yellow tipped stamens. Cluster is loosely arranged to 3/4 inch wide with 3 flowers.
Flower color
Purplish-red
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Other
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are up to 3-1/2 inches long. Has wavy margins with long stalk. Elliptical to oval but shape varies.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Smooth and sometimes faintly marked with 5 shallow grooves. Inversely ovoid to nearly spheric. Less than 1/8 inch long.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Dark brown or black