Bougainvillaea

/ˌbuːɡənˈvɪliə/ noun

Definition

An alternate or archaic spelling of bougainvillea, a tropical plant with colorful papery bracts.

Etymology

Variant spelling of 'bougainvillea,' which is named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, an 18th-century French explorer. The '-aea' or '-ea' suffix variations reflect different historical transliterations from botanical Latin.

Kelly Says

This plant is named after a person—specifically, an 18th-century French naval explorer—and was named to honor him after he collected specimens in South America during his circumnavigation voyage.

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