The photographed plant is probably Bougainvillea X buttiana Holttum & Standley, a hybrid of B. glabra and B. peruviana. This cross has numerous color forms. According to Gordon Braswell, the original hybrid was 'discovered' by Mrs. R. Butt in a garden in Trinidad. From Trinidad, the plants were sent to England. The Botanic Garden in Singapore received their specimen from L.R. Russell in Richmond (England?) in 1923. The plant from the Garden in Singapore was the specimen collected and designated Bougainvillea buttiana in 1944. The X was added when it was realized the plant was a hybrid.

Bougainvillea have unique inflorescences. The tiny tubular flower bud arises from the midvein of a large colorful bract. The leaf-like bracts are in threes and, at least on the photographed plant, there are three sets of three bracts per inflorescence. The flower buds open cream to white. The bracts remain long after the flowers are gone.

The species set seed easily and three of the species hybridize readily. Apparently the interspecific (between species) hybrids are sterile, but Bougainvillea 'bud sport' or develop mutated buds that give rise to branches with characteristics unlike the parent plant. Bougainvillea hybrids and bud sports have given rise to the many varieties including those with variegated leaves. Propagation of the unique varieties must be carried out by cuttings or tissue culture.