mirabilis
mirabilis Lexical Profile
mirabilis Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A genus of herbaceous plants in the four o'clock family (Nyctaginaceae), native predominantly to the Americas, characterized by fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that typically open in the late afternoon.
"The botanist documented a new species of mirabilis growing in the arid regions of Mexico."
A widely cultivated ornamental plant (Mirabilis jalapa) commonly known as the marvel of Peru or four o'clock flower.
"She planted mirabilis along the garden walkway to enjoy their evening fragrance and brightly colored blooms."
Word Nuance & Usage
Typically capitalized and italicized as 'Mirabilis' when referring strictly to the botanical genus, but may appear in lowercase when used broadly by gardeners to denote the plant itself.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'mirabilis', meaning 'wonderful' or 'marvelous', referring to the plant's striking flowers that often display multiple colors on a single stem and open in the late afternoon.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.