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Soon, the plants became popular across the U.S. and were renamed for Mr. Poinsett. You may also see it written as La Flor de la Nochebuena, which means Flower of Christmas Eve. And, I woulda thought the poinsettia would've been snatched up as the perfect plant for Christmas not because of a marketing scheme, but because it was the Christmas colors. You say poin-set-ee-uh, I say poin-set-uhbut lets call the whole thing off because the name of the ubiquitous holiday plant can be pronounced either way. What is a poinsettia called in Central America? Feb. 16, 2023, Publication date: The Countries That Make Up Central America. (F) They didn't become traditional. So, after Pepitaset the flowers at the crcheof the nativity on Christmas Eve, the angels transformed the weedsinto beautiful red flowers. He became intrigued by the plant and sold them from street stands. Lauren, regardless of where a flower was discovered or has possibly been used to divine a purpose dictated from someones heart, has nothing to do with the poinsettia that was created as a thing of beauty. These plants were highly prized by Kings Netzahualcyotl & Montezuma, but because of climatic restrictions could not be grown in their capital, which is now Mexico City. The modern common name poinsettia arose from Grahams description, and as the plant spread rapidly in cultivation in the UK and Europe it was known under the name poinsettia. The colored "flowers" are actually specialized leaves called bracts, while the true flowers are inconspicuous beads found in the center of the bracts. The history of the poinsettia begins with an old Mexican legend and, later, a major American business venture. [15], Pulcherrol and pulcherryl acetate are among the components of latex. Its range is about 2,000km (1,200mi) long, encompassing mid-elevation tropical dry forests. N. I. Vavilov followed up work on the origin of cultivated plants by a Swiss botanist named A. Alphonse de Candolle. [10] Prior to poinsettia, it was known as "Mexican flame flower" or "painted leaf". In fact, he is one of the reasons the Smithsonian Institute exists as a museum. This poinsettia is so much more than a wintertime decoration, this plant has a long history, a special religious meaning, and has become a symbol of the Christmas holiday. 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. Categories Christmas, Fun Facts, Holidays. The Ecke family of southern California began growing Why are the leaves on a poinsettia plant red? [14] Each year in the US, approximately 70 million poinsettias are sold in a period of six weeks, at a value of US$250 million. noun. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is known all across the world as the flower of Christmas. Poinsettia is our nations most popular potted flowering plant. [21], Poinsettias are popularly, though incorrectly, said to be toxic to humans and other animals. The presence of the true flower indicates the plant is still relatively young, he said. Poinsett's Early Diplomacy. Every year in the United States, approximately 70 million poinsettias of many cultivated varieties are sold in a six-week period. They produced a fuller, more compact plant by grafting two varieties of poinsettia together. They are named after the first U.S. Minister to Mexico Joel Poinsett, who introduced the plant to. In 1834, Europeans first described the poinsettia. Its natural habitat is thus highly fragmented, particularly near metropolitan areas such as Taxco. In reply to Lauren, regardless of where by Kathryn (not verified). It is commonly known as poinsettia after Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825. Pick up the pot. The colorful part that we might consider the poinsettia flower is actually a collection of colored leaves called "bracts." The plant's true flower is the tiny, yellow bloom in the middle of the bract, called a "cyathium." Poinsettias are not poisonous. Feb. 9, 2023, Publication date: In the wild, poinsettia plants are native to the Pacific coastline of southwestern Mexico and Guatemala. In nature, the lengthening nights of late September and October trigger poinsettias to flower, Trinklein said. The winter-blooming plant was used for medicinal purposes (from its sap) and as a source of red . Just be sure that cold temperatures in your area don't drop below 45 degrees . The ancient Aztecs called them cuetlaxochitl. The Christmas flower, also called the poinsettia flower and the poinsettia plant, is native to southern Mexico and Central America. 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.. There is a somewhat anomalous population of wild poinsettias in the northern part of the Mexican state of Guerrero and Oaxaca, which is much further inland in the hot and seasonally dry forests than the rest of the species' range. Even thought National Poinsettia Day is observed in the United States, December 12 is also celebrated in Mexico the celebration of Lady Guadalupe. Poinsett found in Mexico an exotic plant that blooms red, pointy leaves not petals during winter. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Plaid Bucilla Counted Cross Stitch Poinsettia & Berries Stocking Cuff Kit 2002 at the best online prices at eBay! Dont forget to share these poinsettia facts with your friends on twitter. The botanical name for Poinsettias is Euphorbia Pulcherrima, which literally means "the most beautiful Euphorbia". The son of a French physician, Poinsett was appointed as the first United States Ambassador to Mexico (1825-1829) by President James Madison. She is a freelance writer, specializing in content related to fashion, food and drink and film industry topics. I also love celebrating national days because, here, its Always the Holidays. 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! Type 2 or more characters into the input search below for suggested results, use up and down arrow keys to navigate through suggest box. The plant had a long history of medicinal use. Flor . It is humid and consists of swamp lands. Luke 2:8-14 He later established Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California. Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico. 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. It is native to the countries of Mexico and Guatemala. In 1828 when he saw the beautiful red plant growing in Mexico, he began shipping some back to his home in South Carolina where he could grow and study them in his greenhouse. 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. Poinsett was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia in early 1827, and this seems to have cemented his connection with the Philadelphia scientific community and with Bartrams Garden .In early 1828, William Maclure, a longtime friend of Poinsett, and Thomas Say, a Bartram nephew, travelled to Mexico, visiting Vera Cruz and Mexico City. Specific details about its spread from there are largely unverifiable, but it was exhibited at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's 1829 Philadelphia Flower Show by Colonel Robert Carr. The poinsettia is native to the tropical areas of southern Mexico and Central America, where it grows as a small tree. He first became involved in archaeological research at Bartrams Garden in 1975, and has participated in a number of archaeological and historic research projects at the garden site since. Genetic analyses showed that the wild populations in northern Guerrero are the likely ancestors of most cultivated poinsettias. It is the first known phytoplasma that has economically advantageous effects. All content on this site is Carol G Speake (Always The Holidays) unless otherwise stated. Each year millions of live potted plants are cultivated and shipped across much of the world for a six-week Christmas season, only to be thrown away in January. In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. Among the contents were the stumps of a strange-looking Euphorbia, which, after a few months growth, showed some very brilliant crimson bracts. (The young Buist soon built a very successful career on the new scarlet plant, and as a result he was credited with the introduction of the poinsettia to Europe in 1834.). [11] In Chile and Peru, the plant became known as the "crown of the Andes". The . Lets partner! This has not been documented in wild poinsettias, though, as cultivars seldom flower and do not produce fruits. The plant was so highly prized in Aztec culture that "Cuetlaxochitl," as the plant was . Philadelphia nurserymen also used the name Poinsetts euphorbia and around 1832 Robert Buist began using Euphorbia poinsettia for the new plant. Aztec people loved poinsettia plants because they produced a bright red dye. In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. How can you ignore the fact that it is rooted in Aztec history, specifically? [8] Carr described it as "a new Euphorbia with bright scarlet bracts or floral leaves, presented to the Bartram Collection by Mr. Poinsett, United States Minister of Mexico. Poinsettias have also been called the lobster flower and the flame-leaf flower, due to the red color. More than 2 million of them will be sold this year, making it the largest potted flower crop grown in the United States! Call Santas phone number, or write a letter to Santas address at the North Pole! The plant now known as poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is native to the pacific coast of Mexico and has an ancient history of human use. This was the first public show of the PHS, a tradition continued today as the Philadelphia Flower Show. If you see something that doesnt appear correct, please click here to contact us. Poinsettias get their American name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who brought them to the states from Mexico in the early 1800s. Updated. What is the Aztec name for poinsettia? Mexico exports. 2023Yankee Publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned Company Native to southern Mexico and Central America, poinsettia has become symbolic of the holiday season for many Americans. Did you enjoy learning those facts about poinsettias? According to legend, a young peasant girl picked poinsettia greens as a Christmas Eve gift for the baby Jesus. 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. While poinsettias with red bracts remain the most popular, they also come in creamy white, shades of pink and orange, marbled in pink and white, and with pink flecks on red. In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. what is the poinsettia called in central america. It's a perennial shrub that was once considered a weed and will grow 10 to 15 feet tall in the wild. 1993 to document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Curators of the University of Missouri, all rights reserved, DMCA and other copyright information. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. What makes this remarkable is that most poinsettias are sold between the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Heres a tweet to get you started: On July 22, 2002 Congress agreed that December 12 would become National Poinsettia Day. They form a circle around a cluster of small yellow flowers on the plant. Poinsettias arent always red! The poinsettia is a native plant of Mexico and originated in a rather limited region near present day Taxco. This happens if purchase through an affiliate link but the price the the same for you. The poinsettia was made widely known because of a man named Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first Ambassador from the USA to Mexico in 1825. What is the poinsettia called in Central America? It is native to Mexico and Central America with a few very interesting meanings and symbolism. Feb. 1, 2023. Water well and place the newly-potted plant in front of the brightest window you have, and once again keep it at a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The common name we use today was believed to have been coined around 1836. The successful transport of live plants from Mexico to Philadelphia in 1828 was almost certainly due to the fact that a number of friends of Bartrams Garden were on the scene in Mexico. Central America is very narrow. Mexico; "Poinsettia" was the name of . Poinsettias come in over 100 different varieties, and the poinsettia meaning changes depending on the color of the plant. His father was a prominent physician and as a boy, Poinsett was educated by his father and private tutors. National Poinsettia Day Poinsettia Colors, Symbolism, Facts & more! California remainsthe top U.S. poinsettia-producing state. A man passionate about science, Poinsett insisted that scientists be included in these global travels. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Poinsettia was one of my mother's favorite plants.La flor de Pascua era una de las plantas preferidas de mi madre. Infection by poinsettia branch-inducing phytoplasma is actually desirable, as it keeps the plants shorter with more flowers. James McNab also visited Philadelphia, and Bartrams Garden in the summer of 1834, and probably took the first successful poinsettia plants back with him to Edinburgh in the fall. What look like petals are specialized leaves called bracts. Many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family ooze a milky white sap which can cause skin irritations for people who are allergic to latex. As she lay the stems near the manger at the local church's nativity scene, they burst forth with red blossoms. C. Carl Linnaeus. Youll know all the history behind them, and their connection to the museum. While the Smithsonian is so much more than a museum, Joel Roberts Poinsett is the man we have to thank for the part of the Smithsonian that is a museum! For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. As they were walking, she picked a bunch of weeds growing by the side of the road and fashioned them into a bouquet. As mentioned earlier, the poinsettia is a symbol of Christmas because of a Mexican legend telling a poinsettia story set during the holiday. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. A year later, in July 1830 a committee of the PHS, For visiting the Nurseries and Gardens in the vicinity of Philadelphia, made particular note of the Euphorbia heterophylla, with its large scarlet flowers, as well as some curious species of Cactus, lately received from Mexico at the Bartram Botanic Garden. Uncover the interconnected stories of thishistoric site. From that day forward, the poinsettias were called Flores de la Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night. Looking for more inspiration for the holidays? Poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America where they grow into 10-foot-tall shrubs. In rare cases, exposure to the eye may result in eye irritation. He was a botanist and the first United States Minister to Mexico. It was re-discovered or at least brought to the attention of the outside world in the 1820s by an American, Joel Roberts Poinsett (1778-1851). They also used the poinsettias' milky white sap wax to create a medicine to treat fevers. He resided in Mexico from 1825 to early 1830. The coast is lowlands, but the rest of the countries are made up of . Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It is traditionally regarded as a true Christmas flower. (Grahams new genus Poinsettia has since been returned to Euphorbia. FACT CHECK: Our editorial staff aims to be accurate and fair in all posts. Perhaps the 1st religious connotations were placed on poinsettias during the 17C. The plants are raised in greenhouses (it is big business), to be sold as potted flowers for the holidays. You might be interested to know that each aspect of the poinsettia flower holds religious symbolism and has a different meaning. Exposure to the plant, even consumption, most often results in no effect,[5] though it can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.[4]. 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. Mistletoe is poisonous to pets and can cause illness in humans. The poinsettia, a red-leafed plant that appears everywhere around Christmastime, first came to the United States in the late 1820s. Choosing the anniversary of Poinsetts death for National Poinsettia Day serves as a reminder of his contribution to making poinsettias available to the United States. You may also see it written as La Flor de la Nochebuena, which means Flower of Christmas Eve. [29] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice of the crucifixion of Jesus. It has been hypothesized that the inaccessibility of the canyons may protect the wild populations from human disturbance. The Legend of the Poinsettia as a Christmas Plant, take care of poinsettias and otherChristmas plants, Poinsettia Care: How to Take Care of Poinsettia Flowers, Best Flowering Trees and Shrubs for Your Garden. Euphorbia pulcherrima is a sub-tropical plant, native to Mexico. It is a little-known fact that the poinsettia was introduced to the gardening world from the Bartram Botanic Garden in 1829. Everyone watching was convinced they had seen a miracle. Press Esc key to exit and to go to the next section at any time. Use arrows left and right to move between the items. A common myth that has existed for generations is that a poinsettia's leaves are poisonous. Poinsettias grow as a perennial shrub in Mexico and parts of Central America. Because of its brilliant color & convenient holiday blooming time, Franciscan priests, near Taxco, began to use the flower in the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre, a nativity procession. https://extension.missouri.edu/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/stock/plants/Poinsettia-ARS.jpgThe poinsettia's small flowers are surrounded by colorful leaves called bracts. The shape of the plant looks like a star. Click to see our Privacy Policy, Christmas is here, bring on the poinsettias!! Check out our post on National Poinsettia Day, including fun and festive ways to celebrate the day! The poinsettia is native to Mexico and Central America, where it grows in moist, wet, wooded ravines and on rocky hillsides. Image: Max and Dee Bernt North America or Northern America is the northern landmass of the Americas. Poinsettia, Paul Ecke Sr. first started selling poinsettias in roadside stands. COLUMBIA, Mo. There, it is a deciduous flowering shrub, growing up to 10 feet in height. Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." . Welcome Center: Open Friday & Saturday, 9:30 am4:30 pm, Public Restrooms: Open MondaySaturday, 9:30 am4:30 pm. We have poinsettias in the United States because of a man named Joel Roberts Poinsett. However, florist dye them in common colors or even add shimmers to make them much more visually engaging during Christmas. Calling Southwest students: paidinternshipsavailable with the river, the farm, and the trees. In their native region of southern Mexico, poinsettias flower during the winter season. 1. Its scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, meaning "very beautiful." John Bartram of Pennsylvania, the father of the American nursery industry, was the first to sell poinsettias under their botanical name. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.". And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For over 150 years, December 12 was considered National Poinsettia Day to honor the day of Poinsett's death in 1851. At present there is evidence that four different collections of seeds and plants were sent from Mexico to Bartrams Garden in Philadelphia in the period 1828-1829. Populations can be up to several hundred individuals, but this is not typical. [42], American Association of Poison Control Centers, "Beschreibung zweier neuen Euphorbien aus Mexico", "The Poinsettia: History and Transformation", "Poinsettia's wild ancestor in the Mexican dry tropics: Historical, genetic, and environmental evidence", "The Legends and Traditions of Holiday Plants | Horticulture and Home Pest News", "The Legends and Traditions of Holiday Plants", "The poinsettia: Jesus' life story in a plant", "The bloom is off the poinsettia business", "How America's Most Popular Potted Plant Captured Christmas", "First Report of Wilt and Stem Canker of Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae in Puerto Rico", "Poinsettias: Helping an Icon to Bloom at the Right Time", "How Poinsettias Became Synonymous With Christmas", Plant Pathology Fact Sheet: Poinsettia Diseases, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Poinsettia&oldid=1135037680, This page was last edited on 22 January 2023, at 06:36. Photo by Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service. The holotype had been collected in Mexico during an 18031804 expedition by Alexander von Humboldt and Aim Bonpland. Unlike fresh Christmas trees, the cultivation of which has some ecological benefits and for which many municipalities have recycling programs, poinsettias are fairly resource-intensive and typically end up in landfills after the holiday.