paper-flower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• paper-flower
• Bougainvillea
• Paper Flower
• lesser bougainvillea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bougainvillea formosa
• Bougainvillea spectabilis var. glabra
• Bougainvillea rubicunda
• Bougainvillea brachycarpa
• Bougainvillea glabra var. acutibracteata
• Bougainvillea glabra var. alba
• Bougainvillea glabra var. brachycarpa
• Bougainvillea glabra var. graciliflora
• Bougainvillea glabra var. obtusibracteata
• Bougainvillea glabra var. sanderiana
• Bougainvillea sanderiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bougainvillea glabra is characterized by its broad adaptability across various environmental conditions, spanning an elevational range from 0 to 2500 m AMSL. This species is frequently found inhabiting diverse forest ecosystems, specifically within the Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), and Floresta Ombrófila Mista. To thrive within these competitive biological communities, the plant utilizes active defense mechanisms to protect its physiological structures and ensure survival.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Life history

The life history of Bougainvillea glabra is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, ensuring a long-term presence in its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated above the ground level, typically supported by woody, climbing, or sprawling stems that allow it to occupy various vertical strata in its habitat. This plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous photosynthetic activity and growth. Its structural development as a phanerophyte allows it to establish a robust, permanent framework, contributing to its enduring and resilient life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bougainvillea glabra is characterized by its woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub or a liana. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant displays a scandent shoot orientation, allowing it to climb, and while it can exhibit self-supporting characteristics, it frequently behaves as a liana. In terms of scale, the species is quite substantial, with an average plant height of approximately 7 m, though it has the potential to reach a maximum height of up to 17 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

17 m

Plant height mean:

7 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bougainvillea glabra is characterized by a non-succulent growth habit and a lack of nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Its foliar morphology follows an alternate leaf arrangement, featuring ovate leaf forms that vary significantly in size. The leaf dimensions exhibit considerable plasticity, with a mean leaf length of 9 cm, ranging from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 310 cm, while the width typically maintains a mean of 4.5 cm, spanning from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

310 cm

Leaf length mean:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bougainvillea glabra is characterized by a prolonged flowering period that can span nearly the entire year, typically beginning in January and concluding in December, though this duration can be variable depending on environmental conditions. The reproductive structures include flowers that exhibit a white color. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its seeds or reproductive units are primarily dispersed through the action of the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bougainvillea glabra has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Scientific reports
2. Microbial pathogenesis

Flower

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Bougainvillea glabra has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, H2O2.

CATECHIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Scientific reports

Flavonoids

1. Scientific reports

Gallic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

H2O2

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Malondialdehyde

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

RUTIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Sagerinic acid

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Bougainvillea glabra has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Immunological investigations
2. Microbial pathogenesis

Antimicrobial

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Preparations

Bougainvillea glabra has 7 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include B. glabra leaf extract, DCM extracts, aerial DCM extract, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts, flower MeOH extract.

B. glabra leaf extract

1. Scientific reports

Dcm extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Aerial dcm extract

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Dichloromethane (dcm) and methanol (meoh) extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower meoh extract

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf extracts

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Methanolic extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)