Łódź, Palmiarnia greenhouse

It is native to Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Chubut Province, Argentina; introduced in many temperate areas as aggressive climbing vine. Ornamental plant. Edible plant - the flower bracts are used for making an attractive, violet-coloured drink, known as 'Agua de Buganvilia', having a refreshingly delicate taste. Herbal plant - the plant contains pinitol, which is considered to be helpful in the treatment of non-insulin diabetes, a study of aqueous and methanolic extracts of the leaves has shown good glucose tolerance and significantly reduced intestinal glucosidase activity, with regeneration of insulin-producing cells and increase in plasma insulin which suggest a potential for the development of new neutraceutical treatment for diabetes.