Description: Rambling shrubs or woody lianas, often vigorous, evergreen or deciduous, with thorns (modified axillary shoots or inflorescences).
Leaves simple, entire, alternate, exstipulate, petiolate, glabrous or pubescent.
Inflorescences cymose, terminal or axillary, pseudantherous with conspicuous colourful bracts and inconspicuous flowers, pedicels adnate to bract midribs. Calyx tubular, 5-lobed. Corolla absent. Stamens 8–10, b orne on the perianth tube. Ovary inferior.
Achene coriaceous, 1seeded, covered by remnant perianth.
Distribution and occurrence: 15 spp., Brazil. Several sp are widely cultivated as ornamentals, and one is weakly naturalised as a vegetative garden escape.
Text by K.D. Hill
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Bougainvillea glabra
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