Poinsettia
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- Christmas star redirects here. For the Christian tradition, see Star of Bethlehem.
The "flowers" are actually large bunches of colored leaves (modified bracts); the flowers themselves are in the center of each leaf bunch, but rather small and inconspicuous. Cultivars have been produced with orange, pale green, cream and marbled leaves.
Poinsettias typically reach a height of 0.6 to 3 m (2 to 10 ft). The plant bears dark green leaves that measure 7 to 16 cm (3 to 6 in) in length. The top leaves are flaming red, pink, or white and are often mistaken as flowers.
Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico and Central America, where they may reach heights of sixteen feet. They are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant in the U.S. in 1825.
In the U.S. poinsettias can be found in the wild in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
An Original Indigenous Name of the Poinsettia
In Nahuatl, the plant is called Cuitlaxochitl meaning excrement flower. This may be because birds would eat the seeds, and then they would appear to germinate from bird excrement.Cultivation
As this is a sub-tropical plant, it will likely perish if the night time temperature falls below 10° C (50° F) so is not suitable for planting in the ground in milder climates. Likewise day time temperatures in excess of 21° C (70° F) tend to shorten the lifespan of the plant.In areas outside its natural environment it is commonly grown as an indoor plant where it prefers good morning sun then shade in the hotter part of the day.
The Poinsettia can be difficult to enduce to reflower after the initial display when purchased. The plant requires a period of uninterrupted long, dark nights for around two months in early spring in order to develop flowers. Any incidental light at night during this time will greatly hamper flower production.
Rumoured toxicity
In the United States and perhaps elsewhere, there is a common misconception that poinsettias are toxic. This has been shown to be untrue; no part of the poinsettia plant is dangerous for humans or animals. The origin of this could be found in the fact that most plants of the spurge genus are indeed toxic and also because the name of the plant seems to refer to the word poison. This misconception was spread by a 1919 urban legend of a two-year-old child dying after consuming a poinsettia leaf. While it is true that the plant is not toxic, those sensitive to latex may suffer an allergic reaction and it is therefore not advisable to bring the plants into the home of sensitive individuals. It is worthwhile to note, however, that the Euphorbias are generally toxic. Reports of the toxicity of Spurges can be found in herbal medicine going back to the Seventeenth century. It is true that the name derives from a Greek surgeon named Euphorbus, who supposedly used the milky latex of these plants in his potions, however one should remember that Belladonna is also used in herbal medicine. The America Society of Florists joined with researchers at Ohio State University to test various parts of the poinsettia plant on rats. Their conclusion was that there was no toxicity or any other side effects even when the rats were given large doses. POISENDEX is the source of poison information for the majority of poison control centers. It says that a 50-pound child would have to eat more than a pound-and-a-quarter of poinsettia leaves to exceed the doses used in the Ohio State research, which would be 500 to 600 leaves. A search for Information about Poinsetta Poisoning confirms that the plant Latex is the toxic part and is not considered "very toxic".Poinsettias in legend
cited article: Legend of the PoinsettiaA Mexican legend explains how poinsettias came to be associated with Christmas. Apparently, a child who could not afford a gift to offer to Christ on Christmas Eve picked some weeds from the side of a road. The child was told that a humble gift, if given in love, would be acceptable in God's eyes. When brought into the church, the weeds bloomed into red and green flowers and the congregation felt they had witnessed a Christmas miracle.
Gallery
External links
Cocktail
- A poinsettia cocktail is a mixture of Champagne or sparkling white wine, vodka, and cranberry juice.
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