Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

The investigation carried out at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.), India with objective to study morphological characters of 32 bougainvillea cultivars replicated thrice during the year 2018-19. The results revealed that there was significant variation observed and every cultivar got some diagnostic character which differs from each other. The cultivar Shweta showed reflexed bract type and cv. Zakiriana, Shubra, Queen Violet showed straight bract reflextion. The leaf shape of cv. Shweta and Magnifica noticed lanceolate type. The cultivar Gopal and Shweta recorded attenuate type of leaf base shape. The cultivars Scarlet O Hara and Zakiriana observed hairy leaf texture. The secondary leaf colour in cultivar Dr. Rao showed a yellow white around broad margin and cv. Thimma noticed yellow colour around midrib in leaf. The flower was absent in multiple bract type cultivars viz., Mahara, Cherry Blossom, Roseville’s Delight and Bridal Bouquet. The internodal length was recorded maximum in cv. Dr. R. R. Pal (2.96 cm) and maximum leaf blade length recorded in Alick Lancaster (8.30 cm). The leaf blade width and petiole length was noticed maximum in cultivar Summer Time (5.06 and 1.98 cm, respectively). The thorn length and thorn diameter was recorded least in Torch Glow (0.37 and 0.104 cm, respectively). The floral characteristics viz., bract length and bract width of bougainvillea cultivars was recorded maximum in cv. Mary Palmer Special (4.90 and 3.40 cm, respectively), peduncle length was noticed maximum in cv. Cherry Blossom (5.51 cm) and longest inflorescence length was recorded in cv. Mahatma Gandhi (33.96 cm). Flourishing season of maximum cultivars of bougainvillea noticed from October to March month and few were recorded no flowering during the end of Jan to Feb month in Chhattisgarh plains. Based on the morphology of plants, maximum can be recommended has potted plant, climber and bonsai.