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The Nyctaginaceae, commonly known as the four o’clock family, is a group of flowering plants that exhibit several distinctive characteristics:
- Flowers: Have only one whorl rather than separate sepals and petals. They come in various colors, including white, pink, red, and purple. The flowers are usually arranged in clusters.
- Stamens: Attached to the corolla tube or near its base.
- Leaves: Leaves vary in shape and size. They are usually simple, alternate, and without stipules.
- Habitat: Found in diverse habitats, including deserts, tropical forests, and coastal regions. They are distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
- Fruits: Range from dry capsules to fleshy berries. Seeds are often dispersed by animals.
- Physiology: Many species exhibit “nyctinasty,” where the flowers open in the evening and close during the day.
- Cultural Importance: Some members of the Nyctaginaceae family have economic importance as ornamental plants (Bougainvillea), while others are used in traditional medicine for their medicinal properties.