Christmas Traditions: The History of Poinsettias relating to Christmas

The poinsettia (/p??n's?ti?/p or /??n's?t?/) (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important vegetable species of the diverse spurge family. The species is indigenous to Mexico. It really is especially well known because of its red and green foliage and is trusted in Xmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett,[3] the first United States Minister to Mexico,[4] who introduced the plant to the US in 1825.

Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, reaching a elevation of 0 typically.6-4 metres (2 ft 0 in-13 ft 1 in). The seed bears dark renewable dentate leaves that strategy 7-16 centimetres (2.8-6.3 in) in length. The coloured bracts--which are most flaming red but can be orange often, pale green, cream, green, white, or marbled--are often recognised incorrectly as 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 improve color. At the same time, the crops require numerous light throughout the day for the brightest color. The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming and do not attract pollinators. They are really grouped within small yellowish structures within the center of each leaf number, and are called cyathia. The poinsettia is native to Mexico. It really is within the untamed in deciduous tropical forests at average elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. Additionally it is found in the inside in the hot, dry out forests of Guerrero seasonally, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Information of E. pulcherrima growing in the wild in Costa and Nicaragua Rica have yet to be established by botanists. There are over 100 cultivated types 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 known 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 called Atat?rk's flower 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 named Santa Claus' Flower, and it's trusted as a Christmas decoration.

The plant's connection with Christmas started out in 16th-century Mexico, where story tells of a girl, called Pepita or Maria commonly, who was too poor to give a surprise for the special event of Jesus' birthday and was influenced by an angel to assemble 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 plant life in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf structure is said to symbolize the Legend of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the bloodstream sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus. Poinsettias are popular Christmas adornments in homes, churches, office buildings, and across North America anywhere else. They can be purchased in good sized quantities from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In america, Dec 12 is Country wide Poinsettia Day.

Poinsettias Wallpaper

History of Poinsettia plants Euphorbia pulcherrima : Grows on You

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Fig. 28. Collapse of a poinsettia cutting with stem rot in a rooting

Poinsettia Care: History, watering amp; environment