Bigelow's desert four o'clock is an ascending to erect, much-branched, glandular-
hairy perennial with sticky stems and opposite, ovate, and viscid-villous leaves.  It grows to about 20" tall and is common in both deserts blooming from March to June and also sometimes in October and November after summer rains.  The flowers are white to pale pink and arise from a cuplike involucre.  There are no petals and what appear to be the petals are actually five delicate sepals with long-exserted stamens. This four o'clock prefers rocky areas and canyons to 7000' in creosote bush scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland.  These pictures were taken in Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Mirabilis 2) laevis 3) villosa.
Pronunciation: mi-RAB-il-is LEE-vis vil-OH-sa.
Formerly Mirabilis bigelovii var. bigelovii.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings