2350.000 Bougainvillea Comm. ex Juss.

Woody shrubs, often spiny and climbing. Leaves alternate. Flowers small, inconspicuous, enclosed by (usually 3) large showy purple, red, orange or white bracts, the pedicels adnate to the midvein of the bracts. Perianth: lower part usually green; upper part 5-6-lobed, rose or yellow. Stamens 5-10. Fruit 5-ribbed.

Derivation of name: Named after de Bougainville, 1729-1811, French navigator.

Worldwide: 18 species from Central and tropical South America

Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated taxon.