Poinsettia Open House Photo by D.S. Cole Growers

The poinsettia (/p??n's?ti?/p or /??n's?t?/) (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important place species of the diverse spurge family. The types is indigenous to Mexico. It is particularly well known for its green and red foliage which is widely used in Christmas 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 united states in 1825.

Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a level of 0.6-4 metres (2 ft 0 in-13 ft 1 in). The place bears dark inexperienced dentate leaves that strategy 7-16 centimetres (2.8-6.3 in) in length. The shaded bracts--which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, red, white, or marbled--are mistaken for blossom petals because of their groupings and colors often, but are leaves actually.[citation needed] The colors of the bracts are manufactured through photoperiodism, meaning that they require darkness (12 hours at the same time for at least five days in a row) to improve color. At the same time, the plants require numerous light during the full day for the brightest color. The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming , nor attract pollinators. They are really grouped within small yellowish structures found in the center of each leaf number, and are called cyathia. The poinsettia is native to Mexico. It really is within the outdoors in deciduous exotic forests at average elevations from southern Sinaloa down the complete Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. It is also found in the interior in the hot, dry forests of Guerrero seasonally, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Accounts of E. pulcherrima growing in the wild in Nicaragua and Costa Rica have yet to be confirmed by botanists. A couple of 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 known in Mexico and Guatemala as Flor de Noche Buena, meaning Christmas Eve Flower. In Spain it is recognized as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Easter flower. In Chile and Peru, the flower became known as Crown of the Andes. In Turkey, it is named Atat?rk's rose because Atat?rk, the founder of the Republic, liked this bloom and made a substantial contribution to its cultivation in Turkey.[citation needed] In Hungarian, it is named Santa Claus' Rose, and it's widely used as a Holiday decoration.

The plant's connection with Christmas started out in 16th-century Mexico, where tale tells of a woman, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was simply too poor to give a gift idea for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was influenced by an angel to assemble weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the cathedral altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plant life in their Xmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf routine is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus. Poinsettias are popular Holiday designs in homes, churches, offices, and anywhere else across North America. They can be purchased in good sized quantities from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In america, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.

Poinsettias Wallpaper

Poinsettia39;s at the growers. Flickr Photo Sharing!

Poinsettias growing as a landscape plants at Florida Botanical Gardens

These tall poinsettias were striking at about 4 feet tall.

website giving details of Poinsettia culture: The Poinsettia Pages