Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. | |
Nyctaginaceae | |
Kaagitha Poo | |
| Botanical Name | Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. |
| Synonyms | Bougainvillea speciosa Schnizl.; Bougainvillea virescens Choisy |
| Family | Nyctaginaceae |
| Common Name | English: Great Bougainvilla / Tamil: Kaagitha Poo |
| Distribution | Global: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. Introduced as ornamental in Tropical countries Indian: Throughout India |
| Description | Evergreen woody climber up to 10m height, bark brown, woody thorns present on the stem. Leaves simple, spiral arranged, ovate to cordate, obtuse, entire, wavy, hairy. Inflorescence axillary or terminal panicle. Bracts 3, petaloid, arranged as involucre and bears the flower, purple or rosy purple, ovate, obtuse, cordate, membranous and reticulate veined. Flower adnate to bract, perianth tubular, yellow, hairy, 5 lobed, narrow mouth. Stamens 7 - 8, filament connate at the base. Ovary monocarpel, ovule 1, style lateral. Fruit achene with anthocarp. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | March – July (Flower ornamental throughout the Year) |
| Uses | Ornamental plant grown in gardens. |
| Medicinal Uses | Plant reported to have anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiulcer and antioxidant properties. |
| Tamil Name | Kaagitha Poo |