In 1994, a Japanese tobacco company was awarded a U.S. They are produced in the seeds, roots, and young shoots, and help the plant protect against various plant viruses and soil-borne fungi. These chemicals have shown specific antiviral and antifungal actions. Of particular interest to researchers is a group of amino acid-based proteins, called mirabilis antiviral proteins (MAPs). The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs by Leslie Taylor, ND states that the “Chemical analysis of clavillia shows that it is rich in many active compounds including triterpenes, proteins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and steroids. Other sites claim the four o’clock plant was used by the Aztecs as a medicine (6) and is still used for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. While we haven’t tried to eat any part of the plant the website Plants for a Future (5) claims it can be eaten as a “survival food”. Some say the whole plant is poisonous and may even be a skin irritant - we haven’t found the latter to be true when working the plant. The edibility and medicinal value of four o’clock is in some dispute. It has excellent east to west sun exposure for most of the day and while the flowers all close up by 11am they reopen at dusk and produce a fragrance that is reminiscent of Gardenias.įlowers open at 9am (left) and closed by 11am (right) We’ve found this plant to be quite drought hardy and seems to have utilized our loamy soils’ water reserves from winter rain via the downspout nearby. They flower from mid April to October here in our Mediterranean climate. Even in cold climates where the temperatures reach well below freezing the large, black carrot shaped tubers (which can be a foot or more long) can survive with heavy mulches or be dug up and stored for the winter and replanted in the spring. Not only that but as I learn about how to care for and utilize these plants I am empowered by the knowledge that others have been growing these plants for hundreds of years.įour o’clocks are hardy perennials which go dormant in the winter and survive via their deep tuberous roots down to below freezing. It makes me feel closer and more connected to the plants I live and work with every day. I find it immensely gratifying to read about plants from an historical perspective. 243 (right), with mention of the plant at top of page He briefly wrote about four o’clock plants "cultivated in the gardens and walks at Cairo" in his book ‘ Voyages and Travels in the Levant in the Years 1749, 50, 51, 52: Containing Observations in Natural History, Physick, Agriculture, and Commerce, Particularly on the Holy Land, and the Natural History of the Scriptures’ (4). Hasselquist traveled from 1749-1752 (and ultimately died before his return) to what was then called the ‘Levant’ or the region of the eastern Mediterranean between Anatolia and Egypt. In doing my due diligence on this plant I stumbled upon a historic document written by Swedish naturalist, Frederick Hasselquist (1) and published by the famous botanist Charles (Carl) Linnaeus (2) for the Queen consort of Sweden, Louisa Ulrika (3). It’s a native to South America and has naturalized all over the world for hundreds of years. This plant has too many common names to list but many people know the plant as a four o’clock, marvel-of-Peru, beauty-of-the-night or clavillia. The scientific name for four o’clock is Mirabilis jalapa. Why? I couldn’t say as I’ve found it is a really interesting and beautiful plant with a long history of cultivation. Not many people go out of their way to buy and grow this plant in their gardens anymore. One of these is the four o’clock plant, growing prolifically near our garage and mandarin tree. Because of the age of this neighborhood we have found in around our property an abundance of old trees and shrubs of what many this day would consider cottage garden or great-grandma plants. Our home was built in approximately 1909. Barber, the founder of the Diamond Match Company, who had a factory built nearby to process lumber for matches at the turn of the twentieth century. Our family lives in a historic neighborhood of Chico, California called the Barber Neighborhood. Four O’Clock plants have a long history of cultivation and use around the world as well as serve many useful functions, with more to experiment with - like as a dye and dynamic accumulator.
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