Conservatory in Edmonton, Nov. 30, 2015. Ed Kaiser / Edmonton Journal

The poinsettia (/p??n's?ti?/p or /??n's?t?/) (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family. The kinds is indigenous to Mexico. It is specifically well known for its red and renewable foliage and is also trusted in Christmas floral shows. 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, attaining a height of 0 typically.6-4 metres (2 ft 0 in-13 ft 1 in). The place bears dark renewable dentate leaves that solution 7-16 centimetres (2.8-6.3 in) long. The coloured bracts--which are most flaming red but can be orange often, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled--are mistaken for bloom petals for their groupings and colors often, but are actually leaves.[citation needed] The colors of the bracts are created through photoperiodism, and therefore they might need darkness (12 hours at the same time for at least five days in a row) to change color. At exactly the same time, the plants require abundant light during the day for the brightest color. The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming , nor attract pollinators. These are grouped within small yellowish structures within the center of each leaf number, and are called cyathia. The poinsettia is local to Mexico. It really is found in the outdoors in deciduous exotic forests at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the complete Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. Additionally it is found in the inside in the hot, seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Studies of E. pulcherrima growing in the open in Nicaragua and Costa Rica have yet to be validated by botanists. There are over 100 cultivated varieties of poinsettia.

The plant was used by the Aztecs 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 recognized as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, signifying Easter flower. In Peru and Chile, the seed became known as Crown of the Andes. In Turkey, it is called Atat?rk's rose because Atat?rk, the founder of the Republic, liked this flower and made a significant contribution to its cultivation in Turkey.[citation needed] In Hungarian, it is named Santa Claus' Rose, and it's trusted as a Holiday decoration.

The plant's connection with Christmas commenced in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, called Pepita or Maria commonly, who was too poor to provide a gift for the party of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to assemble weeds from the roadside and place them before the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the vegetation in their Xmas festivities. The star-shaped leaf structure is thought to symbolize the Superstar of Bethlehem, and the red colorization represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus. Poinsettias are popular Christmas adornments in homes, churches, office buildings, and across THE UNITED STATES in other places. They can be purchased in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, 12 is National Poinsettia Day december.

Poinsettias Wallpaper

undated photo shows a poinsettia flower in New Paltz, N.Y. Poinsettia

Grower Direct Traditional Christmas Flowers Information about

Poinsettia Plant

Flowers at Edmonton Garden 80 Wonderful Red Cyclamen flowers at the