Bougainvillea spectabilis

Bougainvillea spectabilis, also known as great bougainvillea,[1] is a species of flowering plant. It is native to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina's Chubut Province.[2][3] It is widely grown as an ornamental plant.[3]

Bougainvillea spectabilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Genus: Bougainvillea
Species:
B. spectabilis
Binomial name
Bougainvillea spectabilis

Description

Bougainvillea spectabilis grows as a woody vine or shrub, reaching 15 to 40 feet (4.6 to 12.2 m)[4][5] with heart-shaped leaves and thorny, pubescent stems.[5] The flowers are generally small, white, and inconspicuous, highlighted by several brightly colored modified leaves called bracts. The bracts can vary in color, ranging from white, red, mauve, purple-red, or orange. Its fruit is a small, inconspicuous, dry, elongated achene.[3][5]

Distribution
Bougainvillea spectabilis
Detail of flowers and bracts
In the province of Buenos Aires

Bougainvillea spectabilis is native to Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Chubut Province, Argentina, but it has been introduced in many other areas.[3]

Cultivation

Bougainvillea spectabilis can grow in hardiness zones 10-11, preferring full sun , dry conditions, and fertile soil.[5] It can be propagated from stem and root cuttings.[3]

Traditional medicine

The Yanadi tribe of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India, once used the leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis to heal diabetes.

See also
  • Glendora bougainvillea

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bougainvillea spectabilis.
  1. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Bougainvillea spectabilis". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  2. "Bougainvillea spectabilis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  3. T. K. Lim (1 January 2014). Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants, Volume 8: Flowers. Springer Science & Business. pp. 489–494. ISBN 978-94-017-8748-2.
  4. "Tropicos". tropicos.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. Amanda Jarrett (2003). Ornamental Tropical Shrubs. Pineapple Press Inc. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-56164-275-5.
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