Poinsettias from the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California

The poinsettia (/p??n's?ti?/ or /p??n's?t?/) (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important plant kinds of the diverse spurge family. The species is indigenous to Mexico. It is specifically popular because of its red and green foliage and is widely used in Xmas floral exhibits. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett,[3] the first USA Minister to Mexico,[4] who introduced the plant to the US in 1825.

Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, achieving a height of 0 typically.6-4 metres (2 ft 0 in-13 ft 1 in). The place bears dark inexperienced dentate leaves that measure 7-16 centimetres (2.8-6.3 in) long. The colored bracts--which are most flaming red but can be orange often, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled--are often mistaken for flower petals for their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves.[citation needed] The colors of the bracts are manufactured through photoperiodism, meaning that they might need darkness (12 hours at a time for at least five days in a row) to change color. At the same time, the plant life require abundant light during the day for the brightest color. The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming and don't attract pollinators. They are grouped within small yellow structures found in the center of each leaf bunch, and are called cyathia. The poinsettia is native to Mexico. It is found in the outdoors in deciduous tropical forests at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. It is found in the inside in the hot also, dried up forests of Guerrero seasonally, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Reviews of E. pulcherrima growing in the wild in Nicaragua and Costa Rica have yet to be confirmed by botanists. There are over 100 cultivated types of poinsettia.

The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is named Cuitlaxochitl, meaning "flower that grows in residues or soil" Today it is well known in Mexico and Guatemala as Flor de Noche Buena, meaning Christmas Eve Flower. In Spain it is known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Easter flower. In Chile and Peru, the seed became known as Crown of the Andes. In Turkey, it is named Atat?rk's rose because Atat?rk, the creator of the Republic, liked this rose and made a substantial contribution to its cultivation in Turkey.[citation needed] In Hungarian, it is called Santa Claus' Blossom, and it's widely used as a Holiday decoration.

The plant's connection with Christmas started out in 16th-century Mexico, where star tells of a woman, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them before the chapel altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the crops in their Xmas festivities. The star-shaped leaf style is said to symbolize the Superstar of Bethlehem, and the red colorization represents the bloodstream sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus. Poinsettias are popular Holiday adornments in homes, churches, office buildings, and anywhere else across North America. They can be purchased in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is Country wide Poinsettia Day.

Poinsettias Wallpaper

the Paul Ecke Poinsettia Ranch: Dulce Rosa™ is a new poinsettia

FlorAbunda Nursery Poinsettias Encinitas CA

San Diego Daily Photo: December 2012

About 50% of All Poinsettias Sold in the World are Sold by the Ecke