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Poinsettia

1 oz. Cranberry juice
4 oz. Champagne
Combine ingredients and garnish with orange wedge.
Yum yum!

Okay, now to be serious…

Euphorbia ( milkweed, spurge) – Genus heading
Euphorbiaceae – Family name
E.pulcherrima (Mexican flame leaf, Poinsettia) – Botanical name

The poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima is a native to the area around Taxco, Mexico and was introduced to the United States by Joel R. Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico. He discovered the shrub with these brilliantly colored red leaves at the side of the road in Taxco in December, 1828, and sent cuttings home to his plantation in Greenville, South Carolina. He continued to study and breed the plant in his greenhouse. At that time, the blooming period was quite short and it wasn’t until the 1960’s that researchers were able to lengthen the plants blooming time.

The main attraction of the poinsetta, especially in December is its leaves. The flowers are small, inconspicuous yellow clustered buds in the center, but the bracts or modified leaves are the most colorful part of the plant.

Red is the most popular color, followed by white and pink. The colors of the poinsettia range from red, salmon and apricot, to yellow, cream and white. There are also speckled or marbled varieties, with names like ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Candy Cane’, and new varieties are being introduced every year.

In the wild, the poinsettias can reach a height of 10 to 12 feet with leaves measuring six to eight inches across and they bloom according to daylight.

In the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, the Aztecs used the leaves to dye fabric for clothing and the sap for medicinal purposes such as controlling fever. As they considered the red color a symbol of purity the plant was often used in parts of religious ceremonies.

To prolong the poinsettias blooming period in the house at this time of year, place it where it will receive the most indirect sunlight. Avoid drafts and keep indoor temperatures between 60ºF. to 80ºF. Keep the soil slightly moist and fertilize about 2 weeks after you bring the plant into your home. Repeat every week to 10 days until the plant loses its colored bracts.

Today, with the technology used to cultivate poinsettias, they will keep their leaves and can be treated like any houseplant. Further information will be required to keep this plant and coax it to bloom the following December.

Contrary to popular belief, the poinsettia is not a poisonous plant. If ingested it will cause stomach irritation and discomfort. If the fibrous parts of the plant are consumed by cats or children they may choke, and the sticky white sap can cause skin irritation for some people.

If your poinsettia dies for any reason (i.e. Too extreme change in temperature, watering problems, etc.) and you wish to enjoy the poinsettia another time during the year, please refer to the beginning of this article! Nibbs

Written (partly in jest) by Nibbs

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