Annual erect herb to 1 m high; stem glabrous or puberulent. Leaves ovate or ovate-triangular, 3–9 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, glabrous; base cordate to truncate; apex acuminate; petiole 1–4 cm long. Inflorescence 3–7-flowered, often with only 1 flower developing; involucral bracts united, lobes acuminate, persistent. Flowers subsessile, fragrant, opening in the afternoon; perianth 5-lobed, white, yellow, or red, sometimes with a mixture of all colours on the one plant, 2–6 cm long, 2.5–3 cm diam.; stamens 5(–6), exserted. Fruit (anthocarp) subglobose, 5–8 mm diam., ribbed, tuberculate. Flowers Feb.–May
VVP, GipP. Also naturalised WA, ChI, SA, Qld, NSW, NI, ACT. Native to tropical America.
A garden escape, sparingly established, with collections from Ballarat, and Toongabbie.
