Bougainvillea spectabilis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Nyctaginaceae |
Genus: | Bougainvillea |
Species: | B. spectabilis
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Binomial name | |
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 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]
Bougainvillea spectabilis is native to Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Chubut Province, Argentina, but it has been introduced in many other areas. [3]
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]
The Yanadi tribe of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India, once used the leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis to heal diabetes.[ citation needed]