Bougainvillea glabra
Bougainvillea glabra, commonly known as paperflower, is a vibrant climbing shrub prized for its ornamental beauty. Beyond its striking bracts, this plant holds significant medicinal potential in traditional practices. It is frequently studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, offering promising applications in diverse natural therapeutic treatments.
- Scientific name: Bougainvillea glabra
- Family: Nyctaginaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales and the family Nyctaginaceae, it is classified under the genus Bougainvillea. Specifically, its scientific name is Bougainvillea glabra.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Nyctaginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Bougainvillea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Bougainvillea glabra, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Polish, it is called Bugenwilla gładka, while in Hmong, it is known as Naha trójnička. Its name in Chinese is 光叶子花, and in German, it is identified as Kahle Drillingsblume. Additionally, in Arabic, the plant is called جهنمية جرداء.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Bugenwilla gładka | Wikidata |
| hsb | Naha trójnička | Wikidata |
| zh | 光叶子花 | Wikidata |
| de | Kahle Drillingsblume | Wikidata |
| ar | جهنمية جرداء | Wikidata |
| ne | कागते फूल | Wikidata |
| cs | bugenvilea lysá | Wikidata |
| vi | hoa giấy nhẵn | Wikidata |
| az | Çılpaq buqenvilleya | Wikidata |
| ml | ബോഗൈൻവില്ല ഗ്ലാബ്ര | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several continents and distinct climate zones. In Europe, it can be found across the Mediterranean region, specifically in Spain within Southwestern Europe and Italy in Southeastern Europe. Its range extends southward into Northern Africa, where it is established in Algeria. The species also inhabits the Macaronesian islands, most notably the Canary Islands. Finally, its presence reaches into West-Central Tropical Africa, particularly within the nation of Cameroon.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| Middle Atlantic Ocean | Ascension | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mozambique Channel Is. | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Bougainvillea glabra, possesses various functional components that are often studied for their medicinal potential. The aerial portions of the plant are the most visible, consisting of woody stems that support a lush canopy of foliage. The green, ovate leaves (or a single leaf when examined closely) serve as the primary site for photosynthesis, contributing to the plant's overall vitality. While the vibrant, colorful structures often mistaken for petals are actually modified bracts, the true flower parts are small, tubular, and inconspicuous, tucked within these brightly colored bracts.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Bougainvillea glabra has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include H2O2, catechin, chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, gallic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| H2O2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malondialdehyde | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sagerinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Bougainvillea glabra has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |