The
poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a culturally and commercially important
plant species of the diverse spurge family that is indigenous to Mexico and
Central America. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage
and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English
name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico,
who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825.
Euphorbia
pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of 2 ft 0
in–13 ft 1 in. The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 2.8–6.3
in in length. The colored bracts, which are most often flaming red but can be
orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled, are often mistaken for
flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves.
The colors of the bracts are created through photoperiodism, meaning that they
require darkness (12 hours at a time for at least five days in a row) to change
color. At the same time, the plants require abundant light during the day for
the brightest color.
The
flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming and do not 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 wild in deciduous tropical
forest at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific
coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. It is also found in the interior in
the hot, seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Reports of E.
pulcherrima growing in the wild in Nicaragua and Costa Rica have yet to be
confirmed by botanists.
Religious
and Other Traditional Associations
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 Cuetlaxochitl, meaning
"flower that grows in residues." Today it is 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 plant became known as Crown of the Andes. In Turkey, it is called Atatürk's
flower because Atatürk, the founder of the Republic, liked this flower and made
a significant contribution to its cultivation in Turkey.
The
plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend
tells of a girl, 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 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 plants in their
Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the
Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the
crucifixion of Jesus.
Poinsettias
are popular Christmas decorations in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere
across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug,
and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia
Day.
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