Nyctaginaceae
Four-O'clock Family
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 ↓
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.
Which Nyctaginaceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Nyctaginaceae species.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryActinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- InflorescenceCyme
- FruitAchene
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
All 8 species in NYCTAGINACEAE
- Pointed-Leaved HogweedBoerhavia chinensis
- Common Hogweed, Spreading Hogweed, Pigweed, Gorgon, Prickly Water Lily, Hogweed, PigweedBoerhavia diffusa
- Erect SpiderlingBoerhavia erecta
- BougainvilleaBougainvillea glabra
- Lesser BougainvilleaBougainvillea spectabilis
- 4 'O' Clock Plant, Marvel Of PeruMirabilis jalapa
- West Indian Cock's Spur, Hairy Water LilyPisonia aculeata
- Grand Devil's-ClawsPisonia grandis
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