120 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BULLETIN. [XX.2.3&4. 



BOTANICAL. 



BOUGAINVILLAEAS 



By R. 0. Williams, 

 Superintendent, Royal Botanic Gardens, etc., Trinidad. 



Bougainvillaeas rank amongst the most showy of tropical plants 

 and are grown in mosi; West In,ian gardens. 



The two kinds formerly most abundant in Trinidad were 

 B. glabra and B. Sanderiana but of recent years a crimson variety 

 which is thought to be a variety of B. spectabilis has become widely 

 distributed and extremely popular. All t+iree kinds are easily 

 reproduced from cuttings. The bnck-red variety {B. spectabilis 

 var. lateriiia) whilst in great demand has not become abundant, more 

 perhaps on account of the difficulty of propagating it than from any 

 other cause. 



B. glabra the ordinary purple Bougainvillaea, is a rambling bush, 

 which by continuous trimming can be made to form a th.ck, almost 

 impenetrable hedge. There are several varieties of the species 

 possessing purple or magenta coloured bracts of various shades. 



B. Sanderiana is of somewhat similar habit but has larger and 

 richer coloured bracts. 



B. spectabilis, var. known locally as the " Butt " or crimson 

 Bougainvillaea was introduced into Trinidad in 1910 by Mrs. R. V. 

 Butt from Carthagena. From Trinidad it has been distributed to 

 other West Indian Colonies and to Kev/ Gardens. It is a rampant 

 grower, throwing strong, spiny shoots which are somewhat rebellious 

 to training. The flowers are borne on long sprays or in tufts at the 

 ends of the branches. These produce bracts of a beautiful, rich crimson. 

 With careful and frequent pruning this Bougainvillaea may be trained 

 down to wires and made to form masses of colour in beds in the flower 

 garden, in much the same way that the stronger growing roses are 

 treated in England, but to be a success when grown in this way the 

 plants must receive unremitting care and attention. 



B. spectabilis, var. lateriiia is the most robust of the Bougainvillaeas 

 and is never really at home unless provided with a large tree over 

 ^hich to climb. A specimen may be seen at the Botanic Gardens 

 covering a tree over 83 feet in height ; when in full bloom it is an 

 attractive sight and is recognizable even from the opposite side of the 

 Savannah a distance of half a mile or so. The bracts of the flowers 

 are of a brick-red colour, bright when young, but fading v/ith age. 

 It is a most difficult plant to propagate. Occasionally success may be 

 obtained from layers but the better method is to plant strong root 

 cuttings. 



