Habit: Mirabilis jalapa grows as a glabrous, perennial herb up to 90 cm in height, with tuberous roots. The leaves are arranged oppositely, ovate to deltoid, up to 15 cm in length with an entire leaf margin and an acuminate leaf apex..
The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in cymes Flowers subtended by bracts. The calyx has 5 green, acute sepals. There are 5, fused into a tube, red, purple, yellow, or white petals that are salverform. There are 5 stamens. The ovary is superior with 1 locules and ovule. The fruit is a 5 ribbed achene that is retained within the glabrous calyx at maturity (anthocarp).
Habitat: Mirabilis jalapa grows in the Lucayan Archipelago in Human Altered environments (yards, gardens, abandoned fields, roadsides).
Distribution: Mirabilis jalapa is not native to the Lucayan Archipelago. It is native to South America but is found on many of the northern islands.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Mirabilis jalapa is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.
Mirabilis jalapa is grown as an ornamental but often escapes cultivation.