bougainvillaea
UK[ˌbuːɡənˈvɪliə]US[ˌboʊɡənˈvɪliə]
n
A tropical climbing plant with brightly coloured modified leaves (bracts) surrounding small white flowers.
Etymology
The word 'bougainvillaea' is a modern Latin genus name, given in honor of the 18th-century French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville. As a loanword, its spelling and form were borrowed directly from its scientific nomenclature. The logic of its meaning is purely referential, linking the vibrant plant to the explorer associated with its European discovery during voyages in South America. Its journey into common English usage illustrates the tradition of naming flora after notable figures in natural history.
Analysis
This word is a simplex proper noun adopted into English. It does not contain separable, productive morphemes within the English language system.
Examples
The wall was covered in a stunning cascade of purple bougainvillaea.
Bougainvillaea thrives in sunny climates and requires well-drained soil.
She admired the brilliant pink bracts of the bougainvillaea more than its tiny flowers.