Category Archives: Caryophyllales

Bougainvillea glabra

Bougainvilla glabra

Bougainvillea was discovered by French botanist Philibert Commers on the coasts of Brazil, in the 1760’s. Commerson was was an avid collector of botanical specimens and sometimes called a lunatic and a magpie of exotic plants. Despite being a poor sailor he voyaged around the world in his botanical quest. In 1766 Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (1729-1811), lawyer, mathematician, and explorer, joined the French army to serve with Montcalm in Canada so that he would not have to follow his father’s profession of notary. more…