Narrowleaf four o'clock

Images

Click on image to view full size

Narrowleaf four o'clock flower

Narrowleaf four o'clock

Narrowleaf four o'clock leaves

Morphology

Stem

Erect to ascending or trailing on the ground, slender, often branched above, usually whitish, waxy, glabrous or nearly so below, glandular-hairy above especially in inflorescence; leaves in lower 1/5 to throughout.

Leaves

Opposite, simple, short-stalked to nearly sessile, few to many, ascending to spreading, narrowly linear to linear-lanceolate, 1.2 to 4.6 inches long, 1/25 to 3/5 inch wide, thick, 1-nerved, gray-green, glabrous or rarely minutely glandular-pubescent, usually waxy; margins entire to rarely undulate or sparsely toothed; tip narrowed to point or rounded; becoming wrinkled when dry.

Inflorescence

Panicle, open, freely-branched or cyme-like, terminal or axillary or both; stalk 1/8 to 2/5 inch long, minutely glandular-pubescent or sparsely-hairy.

Flower

Involucral bracts united, simulating calyx, pale green, sometimes purple tinged, pubescent; calyces corolla-like, bell-shaped, 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, white, pink or purplish-red, 5-lobed; lobes fused, tips notched; petals absent; stamens 3-5, unequal, projecting beyond edge of calyx.

Fruit

Egg-shaped, 1/6 to 1/5 inch long, 5-angled, brownish-olive, surface ribs rough, pubescent; seeds about 1/8 inch, yellowish-brown.

Ecology

Habitat

Stream valleys, roadsides, pastures; dry sandy or rocky soils.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas; more common westward

Practical Information

Uses

Native Americans used the root to treat stomach disorders, soaked the crushed root and applied it as a poultice to burns, and ate the root to induce urination and vomiting. The plant was steeped and the tea given to humans, sheep and horses for coughs and the liquid applied as a lotion to bring good luck when hunting or trading. The fruits were stewed or roasted and used for food.

Additional Notes