Botanical Family · Caryophyllales

Nyctaginaceae

Four-O'clock Family

8 speciesOrder Caryophyllales8+ well-known plants

The Nyctaginaceae family (Four-O'clock Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Caryophyllales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 8 species across 4 genera. Its members are predominantly herbs. Well-represented genera include Boerhavia, Bougainvillea and Pisonia. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Pointed-Leaved Hogweed, Common Hogweed and Erect Spiderling.

Browse all 8 species ↓

Representative specimen · Nyctaginaceae

Key pattern

Opposite leaves on herbs and shrubs; flowers lack true petals, instead showing a colourful, often trumpet-shaped fused calyx that opens in late afternoon, ripening into a small achene wrapped by a persistent calyx base.

The showy 'petals' of four o'clocks and bougainvillea bracts are not petals at all — true petals are absent throughout the family, with sepals or bracts doing all the colourful work instead.

Identify the species

Which Nyctaginaceae species is this?

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HabitWhat is the plant's growth form?

Climber

Herb

Shrub

Tree

Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?

Not sure / other

Pink

White

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Nyctaginaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

Learn the full family-identification method

Typical flower & fruit

Flower symmetryActinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
InflorescenceCyme
FruitAchene

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Pointed-Leaved HogweedBoerhavia chinensisCommon Hogweed, Spreading Hogweed, Pigweed, Gorgon, Prickly Water Lily, Hogweed, PigweedBoerhavia diffusaErect SpiderlingBoerhavia erectaBougainvilleaBougainvillea glabraLesser BougainvilleaBougainvillea spectabilis4 'O' Clock Plant, Marvel Of PeruMirabilis jalapaWest Indian Cock's Spur, Hairy Water LilyPisonia aculeataGrand Devil's-ClawsPisonia grandis

Families that can look similar

Amaranthaceae

Compare against Amaranthaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Amaranthaceae

Polygonaceae

Compare against Polygonaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Polygonaceae

Cactaceae

Compare against Cactaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Cactaceae

Aizoaceae

Compare against Aizoaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Aizoaceae

All 8 species in NYCTAGINACEAE

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