noun
bougainvillea
boo-gun-VIL-ee-uh/ˌbuːɡənˈvɪliə/
A tropical climbing plant with bright papery leaves surrounding its small flowers.
Bright pink bougainvillea climbs across the sunny wall beside the gate.
Etymology
The plant’s name commemorates the French navigator Louis Bougainville. Its connection to the tropical woody vine is through that dedication rather than a description of its bright bracts.
In context
a guava and a bougainvillea. These also have net-veined leaves
More examples
- Small white flowers peek from the bougainvillea's papery bracts.
- They prune the bougainvillea after flowering.
- A thorny bougainvillea covers the courtyard trellis.
Forms
bougainvillea · bougainvilleas
Similar words
- vine
- Vine is a broad growth form; bougainvillea is a particular woody climbing plant.