He first served as a special envoy to Mexico in 1822-1823, and when the new Mexican Republic was recognized in 1824, Poinsett was first U. S. Minister Plenipotentiary. December 12, 2023. It is native to Mexico and Central America with a few very interesting meanings and symbolism. Ambassador Poinsettia offered to buy Texas so he could reintroduce slavery into Tejas. Below are some of our favorite plant themednational days: If you love trivia and want to learn more facts about all kinds of things, make sure you head to our fun facts section. The Aztecs referred to poinsettia as "cuetlaxochitl" (brilliant flower), while the Maya called them "k'alul wits" (ember flower). D. Theophrastus. What looks like petals are specialized leaves called bracts. (Although there is still some debate whether some North American Euphorbia species should be split off into a new genus Poinsettia. The son of a French physician, Poinsett was appointed as the first United States Ambassador to Mexico (1825-1829) by President James Madison. Poinsettias are shrubs or small trees, with heights of 0.6 to 4m (2.0 to 13.1ft). Poinsettias are also one of the two birth flowers of December (the other is Narcissus). And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." Put the plant in bright, indirect light, and do not overwater, Trinklein said. 2023Yankee Publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned Company This list is in large part made up of fruits and vegetables offered in the markets in Mexico, but some trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants from the wild were included, notably several forms of cactus. She was very poor so all she could do was picka bouquet of weeds to offer. Central America The poinsettia flower is native to Central America - specifically, an area in southern Mexico called "Taxco del Alarcon" - and the plants were used by the ancient Aztecs to make a purple dye for clothing and cosmetics. Poinsettias are not poisonous. In warm climates the poinsettia grows outdoors as a winter-flowering leggy shrub about 3 metres (10 feet) high; as a potted plant in northern areas it rarely grows beyond 1 metre. Poinsettias prefer moist, well-drained soils with a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5. [11] In Spain it is known as flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning 'Easter flower'. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The red parts of the poinsettia that appear to be flower petals are actually leaves (called bracts). Its relatively easy to tell when a poinsettia needs water, Trinklein said. December 12, 1851 is the day Joel Roberts Poinsett died. The United Nations geoscheme defines "North America" as consisting of three regions . Because of its brilliant color, the poinsettia was a symbol of purity to the Indians. The plants can be kept as houseplants, though they require specific care in order to trigger the bracts to change colour and bloom again the following year. It has since been spread in our gardens near Philadelphia, and is know in some as the Euphorbia Poinseti; but appears to me to form a peculiar genus or S. G. at least. just read the article Even thought National Poinsettia Day is observed in the United States, December 12 is also celebrated in Mexico the celebration of Lady Guadalupe. The farthest away from the sea one can be is 125 miles. Paul Ecke Jr. also went on talk shows to promote the plant. [13], The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming. Through the marketing efforts of Paul Ecke and his sons, the poinsettia has become symbolic with Christmas in the United States. The poinsettia may have remained a regional plant for many years to come had it not been for the efforts of Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779 1851). The colored bractswhich are normally flaming red, with cultivars being orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbledare often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Different colors are the result of chance mutations from the original red.. They became associated with the Christmas holiday and are popular seasonal decorations. Poinsettias are members of the Euphorbiaceae Family and like many plants of this family the poinsettia oozes a milky, latex sap. It was almost certainly seen by early European explorers and colonists, but somehow never entered cultivation in Europe. Then touch the surface of the soil. There is a nice legend associated with it. When Poinsett began to grow his namesake plant in Charleston after his return, it probably returned to him via the Philadelphia nursery community.. Euphorbia Pulcherrima, also known as Poinsettia, Christmas Flower, Winter Rose, Christmas Star, or Mexican Flame Leaf, is a species of perennial shrubs or small trees in the Euphorbiaceae family. One year, I took advantage of an open house at a local wholesale grower's greenhouse to view the estimated 40,000 plants they had ready to be shipped out to stores in my region. See whatsblooming, find a favoritetree, and stroll thegardensand natural lands. They brought back artifacts to display in Washington, DC (in what is now part of the Smithsonian). There are seven countries in Central America: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The Mexican poinsettia, known as the Christmas Flower in North America, is used in most Christmas decorations, owing to its bright red color and its blooming season coinciding with the Christmas holiday season. [32] In the US, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, marking the anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsett's death. Check out this post featuring 27 Christmas plants. Ecke, who lived inCalifornia, discovereda technique which caused seedlings to branch, resulting in a fuller plant. Aztec people loved poinsettia plants because they produced a bright red dye. What makes this remarkable is that most poinsettias are sold between the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Guatemala is the largest country by population, with almost 18 million inhabitants. National Poinsettia Day Poinsettia Colors, Symbolism, Facts & more! In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. If it feels light, it may need water. It is in the same family as frangipani and milkweed. An Act of Congress has even set December 12, the death of Joel Poinsett, as National Poinsettia Day to commemorate a man and his plant. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased! Use arrows left and right to move between the items. One population in the Mexican state of Guerrero is much further inland, however, and is thought to be the ancestor of most cultivated populations. The poinsettia, native to Mexico, was given the botanical name Euphorbia pulcherrima, which literally means "very beautiful." Its popular name honors Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant here. Remove any excess water that is still in the planter after 10 minutes. In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. The poinsettia (/pnst(i)/;[1][2][3] Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. The colored "flowers" are actually specialized leaves called bracts, while the true flowers are inconspicuous beads found in the center of the bracts. An amateur botanist, Poinsett saw the red flowers when visiting the Mexican town of Taxco in the state of Guerrero, shortly before he was thrown out of the country for trying to buy Texas from the Mexicans for a million dollars! JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. In 1970 the US Food and Drug Administration published a newsletter stating erroneously that "one poinsettia leaf can kill a child", and in 1980 they were prohibited from nursing homes in a county in North Carolina due to this supposed toxicity. Winter Rose White. He developed a secret grafting technique for the plants. To get off to a good start, protect your new plant from cold temperatures and chilling winds on the way home from the store. [11] In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called cuetlaxchitl, meaning 'flower that grows in residues or soil'. More than 2 million of them will be sold this year, making it the largest potted flower crop grown in the United States! Poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America where they grow into 10-foot-tall shrubs. and it doesnt say anywhere that poinsetas are dangerious to animals, In reply to poinsetas by robert phillips (not verified). If that's your experience, it's time you learned about growing poinsettia plants outside. Poinsettias come in over 100 different varieties, and the poinsettia meaning changes depending on the color of the plant. Joel Roberts Poinsett was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 2, 1779. Poinsettia plants are native to Central America, most commonly in southern Mexico, where they flower during the winter. As a major scientific scholar in 19th-century America, the botanist and statesman was the first to argue the Smithsonian should be a national museum . Oleander ( Nerium oleander ), also known as rose bay, is native to the Mediterranean region eastward to India and southern China. So, after Pepitaset the flowers at the crcheof the nativity on Christmas Eve, the angels transformed the weedsinto beautiful red flowers. FACT CHECK: Our editorial staff aims to be accurate and fair in all posts. Keep it out of direct sun, though, which could fade the leaves. [9] Possibly as early as 1826, Poinsett began sending poinsettias from Mexico back to his greenhouses in South Carolina. Poinsettia is our nations most popular potted flowering plant. [18][19][20][21] One of the triterpenoid skeleton is investigated as foundation to drugs for Alzheimer's disease. 12. Press Enter or Space to enter content for each tab button. [5] This misconception was spread by a 1919 urban legend of a two-year-old child dying after consuming a poinsettia leaf. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. In fact, it provides 80% of the poinsettias in the United States, and about 50% of the worlds supply of poinsettias! It was almost certainly seen by early European explorers and colonists, but somehow never entered cultivation in Europe. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The plants are raised in greenhouses (it is big business), to be sold as potted flowers for the holidays. [5], An attempt to determine a poisonous dose of poinsettia to rats failed, even after reaching experimental doses equivalent to consuming 500 leaves, or nearly 1kg (2.2lb) of sap. She felt sad, but her cousin, Pedro told her that the baby Jesus would appreciate any present given with love. It is traditionally regarded as a true Christmas flower. Populations were once found in rolling hill areas, though many have gone extinct. His son, Paul Ecke Jr. impacted the history of poinsettias by helping the horticultural industry push for floral and nursery crops to be included in the US Department of Agricultures research budget. The benefactor of the Smithsonian, James Smithson left his estate of $508,318 (which today is the equivalent of about $15 million) to create under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.. ), In the summer of 1833, the botanist Constantine Rafinesque published the first scientific description of the poinsettia in Philadelphia, for his Atlantic Journal. A poinsettia left to grow on its own will naturally take an open, somewhat weedy look. Poinsettias are also called Flores de la Noche Buena or Flowers of the Holy Night. In Euphorbia, the flowers are reduced even more and then aggregated into an inflorescence or cluster of flowers. This comes from the poinsettia story featuring a little girl named Pepita based off a Mexican legend. The Christmas rose, also called the Snow or Winter Rose, is a well known English plant. Flor . Overwatering is a common cause of death, so water only when the soil is dry and don't let the plant sit in water. See more advice on how totake care of poinsettias and otherChristmas plants. Take a close look at the cyathia as well. Conditions that promote poinsettia propagation also favor certain diseases. (botany) a. la flor de Pascua. Help improve lives, communities and economies throughout the state. When she placed the bouquet down, it changed into beautiful red poinsettias. Cut off the fading bracts, leaving 4-6 inches of the stem on each branch and as many green leaves as possible. The ancient Aztecs called them 'cuetlaxochitl'. In mid-May, do the following: Cut the stems back to about four inches and repot your poinsettia into a slightly larger container filled with new potting soil. Many of these poinsettias are grown by Paul Ecke Ranch, which serves half the worldwide market and 70 percent of the US market. Type 2 or more characters into the input search below for suggested results, use up and down arrow keys to navigate through suggest box. Infection by poinsettia branch-inducing phytoplasma is actually desirable, as it keeps the plants shorter with more flowers. Even if you have a limited holiday decorating budget . Poinsett was so impressed by the beauty of these plants that he sent cuttings back to hisplantation near Georgetown,South Carolina,where they were propagated and called the Mexican Fire Plant. The plant was shared with botanical gardens and growers across the country. The poinsettia's small flowers are surrounded by colorful leaves called bracts. Here you'll find recipes and craft projects to make your holidays even more special. Unfortunately for history, Graham relied on Buists own incorrect account of the introduction of the plant, and omitted any mention of the Carrs or Bartrams Garden. Its natural habitat is thus highly fragmented, particularly near metropolitan areas such as Taxco. Gently firm the soil around the plant and water well. Cultivated and valued in Central America long before the arrival of Europeans, Euphorbia pulcherrima (meaning very beautiful Euphorbia) is known more commonly as Poinsettia. Native to southern Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia has become symbolic of the holiday season for many Americans. As they were walking, she picked a bunch of weeds growing by the side of the road and fashioned them into a bouquet. There is religious symbolism in the poinsettia flower the star shape represents the Star of Bethlehem, the red leaves represent the blood of Christ, and white leaves represent the purity of Christ. It is native to the countries of Mexico and Guatemala. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. They are grouped within the cyathia (small yellow structures found in the center of each leaf bunch, or false flowers). Skin exposure to the sap may cause itchiness, redness, or swelling. Though she was embarrassed by her small gift, as she walked to the nativity scene, she kept thinking of what her cousin said. Go back and get it! Growingfood sovereigntywith an African Diaspora focus.
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