Nyctaginaceae is a family of flowering plants, also known as the Four o'clock family. It includes around 28 genera and 350 species of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees, found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. The plants are characterized by their unique flowers, which often open in the late afternoon or at night, hence the common name. Many species have showy, colorful bracts surrounding small, tubular flowers. Some well-known members of Nyctaginaceae include the four o'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa), the bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis), and the climbing milkweed (Funastrum clausum).