Jal·ap n.  Med. The tubers of the Mexican plant Ipomœa purga (or Exogonium purga) of the family Convolvulaceae, a climber much like the morning-glory. The abstract, extract, and powder, prepared from the tubers, are well known purgative (cathartic) medicines, and are also called jalap. Other species of Ipomœa yield several inferior kinds of jalap, as the Ipomœa Orizabensis, and Ipomœa tuberosa.
 False jalap, the root of Mirabilis Jalapa, four-o'clock, or marvel of Peru.

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 Mirabilis jalapa
      n : common garden plant of North America having fragrant red or
          purple or yellow or white flowers that open in late
          afternoon [syn: common four-o'clock, marvel-of-Peru,
          Mirabilis uniflora]