Bougainvillea
| Bougainvillea | |
|---|---|
| Bougainvillea spectabilis found in Damauli, Nepal | |
| Bougainvillea glabra found in Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Nyctaginaceae |
| Tribe: | Bougainvilleae |
| Genus: | Bougainvillea Comm. ex Juss. |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Tricycla Cav. | |
Bougainvillea (/ˌbuːɡənˈvɪli.ə/ BOO-gən-VIL-ee-ə, US also /ˌboʊ-/ BOH-) is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees belonging to the family, Nyctaginaceae. They are native to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, and Argentina. There are between 4 and 22 species in the genus. The inflorescence consists of large colourful sepal-like bracts which surround three simple waxy flowers, gaining popularity for the plant as an ornamental. The plant is named after explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville (1729–1811), after it was documented on one of his expeditions.