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Tropical Plants


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Entry terms: tropical trees

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Bougainvillea

Description

Bougainvillea is a tropical vining shrub that comes in a wide array of bright and fanciful colors. The "flowers" are actually modified leaves, called bracts, that are long-lasting and bright. The colorful bracts outshine the plant's true (but tiny) flower, much like a poinsettia. For more information on Bougainvillea, see the UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions Bougainvillea page.

Feijoa

The fruits from Feijoa sellowiana Berg (feijoa) are also known as pineapple guava or guavasteen.

Related Topics: Tropical Plants, Foliage Plants

Vanilla

Vanilla planifolia

Publications


Kratom: Botanical Insights and Cultivation Practices for a Conspicuous Medicinal Tree Species

Mengzi Zhang, Annabella Lyndon, Brian Pearson, Brian J. Pearson, Christopher R. McCurdy, Abhisheak Sharma, andJianjun Chen

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a member of the family Rubiaceae, a group of plants known for producing diverse bioactive metabolites. Arguably, the most popular member of the Rubiaceae family is coffee (Coffea arabica), which yields seeds (coffee beans) that contain bioactive metabolites, including the central nervous system stimulant caffeine. Unlike coffee, kratom is a facultatively deciduous tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Other species closely related to kratom include M. hirsuta, M. diversifolia, and M. parvifolia. This publication offers educational insights into the horticultural aspects of kratom based on empirical scientific research for anyone interested in cultivating it.