Marvel of Peru

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Marvel of Peru

(not. ord. Nyctaginese).

A genus containing about ten or a dozen species of greenhouse and hardy perennials of which the best known is Mirabilis jalapa, or Commonly Marvel of Peru, from whose tuberous roots the purgative jalap is prepared. The flowers are various in colour, being yellow, crimson, or white, or one or other of these colours striped or spotted with another.

It will grow best in a light rich loam, but does well in any good well-drained garden soil. The roots are taken up and stored by nurseries for sale in spring. It can be grown from seeds sown in gentle heat at the end of March or beginning of April and planted out in May.