La`au `Umi KumaKolu....Thirteenth Plant
Bougainvillea
Pukanawila
Several varieties of Bougainvillea are found in
Hawaii, most with red or purplish flowers. One I
find quite striking is the variety that has the three
colors mixed as in the photo. Genus Bougainvillea is
named after the French navigator Louis A. de Bougainville
who first noted the plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
The plant has been cultivated in Hawaii since 1875 and is
quite common in gardens, sometimes escaping into the wild.
Watch out for the thorns!
Kekahi La`au Aku NO
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