- Bougainvillea
Taxobox
color = lightgreen
name = "Bougainvillea"
image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Bougainvillea spectabilis"
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Caryophyllales
familia =Nyctaginaceae
genus = "Bougainvillea"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = Selected species:
"Bougainvillea buttiana"
"Bougainvillea glabra "
"Bougainvillea peruviana"
"Bougainvillea spectabilis"
"Bougainvillea spinosa"Bougainvillea is a genus of
flowering plant s native toSouth America fromBrazil west toPeru and south to southernArgentina (Chubut Province ). Different authors accept between four and 18 species in the genus. The name comes fromLouis Antoine de Bougainville , anadmiral in theFrench Navy who discovered the plant inBrazil in 1768.They are thorny, woody,
vine s growing anywhere from 1-12 meters tall, scrambling over other plants with their hooked thorns. The thorns are tipped with a black, waxy substance. They areevergreen where rainfall occurs all year, ordeciduous if there is adry season . The leaves are alternate, simple ovate-acuminate, 4-13 cm long and 2-6 cm broad. The actualflower of the plant is small and generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three or sixbract s with the bright colors associated with the plant, including pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow. "Bougainvillea glabra " is sometimes referred to as "paper flower" because the bracts are thin and papery. Thefruit is a narrow five-lobedachene .Bougainvillea are relatively pest-free plants, but may suffer from worms and
aphid s. Thelarva e of someLepidoptera species also use them as food plants, for example theGiant Leopard Moth .Cultivation and uses
Bougainvilleas are popular
ornamental plant s in most areas with warm climates, includingIndia ,Taiwan ,Vietnam ,Malaysia ,Australia , theMediterranean region , theCaribbean ,Mexico ,South Africa , and theUnited States inArizona ,California ,Florida ,Hawaii , and southernTexas .Numerous
cultivar s andhybrid s have been selected, including nearly thornless shrubs. Some Bougainvillea cultivars are sterile, and are propagated from cuttings.Bougainvillea are rapid growing and flower all year in warm climates, especially when pinched or pruned. They grow best in moist fertile soil. Bloom cycles are typically four to six weeks. Bougainvillea grow best in very bright full sun and with frequent fertilization, but the plant requires little water to flower. As indoor
houseplant s in temperate regions, they can be kept small bybonsai techniques. If overwatered, Bougainvillea will not flower and may lose leaves or wilt, or even die from root decay.ymbolism
Various species of bougainvillea are the official flowers of the island of Grenada, the island of Guam, of Lienchiang and Pingtung Counties in
Taiwan , Ipoh, Malaysia [http://www.heritage.com.my/ipoh/tour_guide/] and of the cities of Tagbilaran,Philippines ;Camarillo, California ;Laguna Niguel, California ; andSan Clemente, California .References and external links
[http://www.picable.com/Nature/Flowers/Bougainvillea-Close-up.273331 picture: Bougainvillae Flower Close-up]
* [http://www.agaclar.gen.tr Türkçe bilgi için "Bougainvillea"]
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?1617 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Bougainvillea"]
* [http://www.elchenque.com.ar/rve/montenegro.htm "Bougainvillea spinosa" in Argentina] (in Spanish)
* [http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/search?search_string=Bougainvillea Flora Brasiliensis: "Bougainvillea"] (in Portuguese)
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