Florida Native Plant Society

The poinsettia (/p??n's?ti?/ or /p??n's?t?/) (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important seed varieties of the diverse spurge family. The types is indigenous to Mexico. It is particularly popular because of its inexperienced and red foliage and it is trusted in Christmas floral displays. 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, getting a height of 0 typically.6-4 metres (2 ft 0 in-13 ft 1 in). The seed bears dark renewable dentate leaves that solution 7-16 centimetres (2.8-6.3 in) in length. The coloured bracts--which 're normally flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled--are recognised incorrectly as blossom petals for their groupings and colors often, 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 improve color. At the same time, the crops require abundant light through the full day for the brightest color. The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming and don't attract pollinators. They are grouped within small yellowish structures within the center of every leaf bunch, and are called cyathia. The poinsettia is local to Mexico. It really is found in the wild in deciduous tropical forests at modest elevations from southern Sinaloa down the whole Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. Additionally it is found in the inside in the hot, seasonally dried up forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Studies of E. pulcherrima growing in the open in Nicaragua and Costa Rica have yet to be verified by botanists. You will find over 100 cultivated varieties 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 called 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 Peru and Chile, the vegetable became known as Crown of the Andes. In Turkey, it is named Atat?rk's blossom because Atat?rk, the founder of the Republic, liked this bloom and made a significant contribution to its cultivation in Turkey.[citation needed] In Hungarian, it is called Santa Claus' Rose, and it's widely used as a Holiday decoration.

The plant's relationship with Christmas started in 16th-century Mexico, where story tells of a woman, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to give a surprise for the special event of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to assemble weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the crops in their Christmas activities. The star-shaped leaf structure is thought to symbolize the Celebrity of Bethlehem, and the red colorization represents the bloodstream sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus. Poinsettias are popular Holiday decorations in homes, churches, office buildings, and somewhere else across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In america, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.

Poinsettias Wallpaper

Poinsettias do quite well here in northern Florida.

Poinsettia cyathophora Photos ISB: Atlas of Florida Plants ISB

Euphorbia cyathophora Poinsettia cyathophora Wild Poinsettia

Christmas Poinsettias Epcot Center FL Christmas Pinterest