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. In nature, the lengthening nights of late September and October trigger poinsettias to flower, Trinklein said. In the wild, poinsettia plants are native to the Pacific coastline of southwestern Mexico and Guatemala. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico, who is credited with introducing the plant to the US in the 1820s. The common name we use today was believed to have been coined around 1836. Put the plant in bright, indirect light, and do not overwater, Trinklein said. Here are some more poinsettia facts for you to enjoy! [32] In the US, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, marking the anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsett's death. The true flowers are the yellow bead-like structures in the center of the poinsettia (called cyathia). Copyright & Permissions 2023 - Carol G Speake. The rest is history. hessy wa kayole pictures. The poinsettia (/pnst(i)/;[1][2][3] Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. The Eckes' technique made it possible to get every seedling to branch, resulting in a bushier plant. Use Esc key to go back to input search field. The ancient Aztecs called them 'cuetlaxochitl'. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. If your poinsettia is wrapped in decorative foil, make sure there is a drain hole in the foil. Infection by poinsettia branch-inducing phytoplasma is actually desirable, as it keeps the plants shorter with more flowers. All content on this site is Carol G Speake (Always The Holidays) unless otherwise stated. [13], The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming. [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. Discover the legend of the poinsettia! [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. Legend links it with the birth of Christ and a little shepherdess named Madelon. Keep it out of direct sun, though, which could fade the leaves. Cuetlaxochitl: the origin of the Poinsettia. 12. in . The brightly colored parts of the plant (called bracts) are actually modified leaves. Congress passed a bill in 2002 making December 12, National Poinsettia Day (which is also the anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsetts death). A man passionate about science, Poinsett insisted that scientists be included in these global travels. 1993 to document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Curators of the University of Missouri, all rights reserved, DMCA and other copyright information. After its introduction in Philadelphia, the poinsettia was shipped around the country during the 1800s, usually as an outdoor plant for warm climates. It is said to resemble the Star of Bethlehem, which led the three wise men to Jesus. All available evidence suggests that the poinsettia was first sent to the Bartram Garden in Philadelphia in the fall of 1828. 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. Rafinesque recorded the brief history of the plant in Philadelphia to date: The Botanical Garden of Bartram received some years ago from Mr. Poinsett our ambassador in Mexico, a fine new green-house shrub, akin to Euphorbia, with splendid scarlet blossoms, or rather bracts. It was almost certainly seen by early European explorers and colonists, but somehow never entered cultivation in Europe. [7], It was known by the common name "poinsettia" as early as 1836,[8] derived from Joel Roberts Poinsett, a botanist and the first US Minister to Mexico. They also used the poinsettias' milky white sap wax to create a medicine to treat fevers. . Check out this post to learn how to grow poinsettias indoors for the holidays and beyond. If you see something that doesnt appear correct, please click here to contact us. Aside from the Christmas tree itself, no plant symbolizes Christmas quite like the poinsettia. Most wild populations are on Pacific-facing slopes in steep canyons. Wild poinsettias occur from Mexico to southern Guatemala, growing on mid-elevation, Pacific-facing slopes. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. National Poinsettia Day on December 12 also forms a cultural bridge between the U.S. and Mexico. . In his teens, he was sent to an academy in Connecticut administered by Timothy Dwight, a noted educator. In Mexico, the poinsettia is called "flores de nochebuena," which translates as flowers of the Holy Night. document.getElementById("eeb-998483-568343").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%69%6e%66%6f%40%62%61%72%74%72%61%6d%73%67%61%72%64%65%6e%2e%6f%72%67%27"))*protected email*. To find the real (Nahuatl) name for this beautiful plant, check out the real history on my Facebook page. After suffering for two weeks with uncontrollable itching, hives and fevers, I found out the sap is poisonous to animals and some humans. Check out this post featuring 27 Christmas plants. This is impossible for the poinsettia was shown to the Philadelphia public in June of 1829, over six months before Poinsett returned from Mexico. This is the most likely route for plants of the poinsettia to Bartrams Garden. it caused property damage estimated at $22.5 million, as well as the only reported fatality in. 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! 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. In the early 1830s Robert Buist began sending plants or cuttings of poinsettia to Europe, and particularly to his friend James McNab at the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. Central America is very narrow. 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! "[8], The poinsettia is the world's most economically important potted plant. Poinsettias come in over 100 different varieties, and the poinsettia meaning changes depending on the color of the plant. ), It has long been the story that Poinsett personally introduced the poinsettia first to Charleston, bringing the plant on his return from Mexico, and from there it was discovered or sent to the Carrs in Philadelphia. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. Many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family ooze a milky white sap which can cause skin irritations for people who are allergic to latex. How can you ignore the fact that it is rooted in Aztec history, specifically? 1. . Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Brightly colored and mostly red, a Poinsettia provides effective color in home decor during and after the holiday season. The poinsettia flower, or Euphorbia pulcherrima, is a plant of the spurge family and is commercially important. Wild poinsettia populations are highly fragmented, as their habitat is experiencing largely unregulated deforestation. According to Mexican lore, there was a young child,Pepita, who did not have a gift for the baby Jesus at a Christmas Eve service. Exposure to the plant, even consumption, most often results in no effect,[5] though it can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.[4]. 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. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Natives call this special flower the Christmas Star . Pick up the pot. Poinsettia is a short-day plant, meaning it needs long periods of uninterrupted darkness each day in order to bloom. It is native to the countries of Mexico and Guatemala. 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. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Red poinsettias symbolize the blood of Christ. [18][19][20][21] One of the triterpenoid skeleton is investigated as foundation to drugs for Alzheimer's disease. Press Enter or Space to enter content for each tab button. The botanical name for Poinsettias is Euphorbia Pulcherrima, which literally means "the most beautiful Euphorbia". If you enjoyed learning these facts about poinsettias, and discovering National Poinsettia Day, youll be excited to know there are actually several national days of the year dedicated to plants. William Maclure returned briefly to Philadelphia in the fall of 1828, and he brought yet more Mexican seeds and plants with him. The Aztecs used the poinsettia bracts to make a reddish-purple dye for fabrics and used the sap medicinally to control fevers. Uncover the interconnected stories of thishistoric site. What is a poinsettia called in South America? D. Theophrastus. The colorful part of the poinsettia that we enjoy isnt a flower. They became associated with the Christmas holiday and are popular seasonal decorations. Photo by Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service. Robert Buist, a Philadelphia nurseryman, remembered seeing the first poinsettia roots unpacked at Bartrams Garden in 1828: On my arrival in this country from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, in 1828, I paid a visit to the famed Bartram Botanic Garden, and there saw two cases of plants which had just arrived from Mexico. I know often this happens in "short histories". 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. 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. Poinsettias were brought from Mexico to the United States through way of South Carolina by Joel Roberts Poinsett. Poinsettias are members of the Euphorbiaceae Family and like many plants of this family the poinsettia oozes a milky, latex sap. Welcome Center: Open Friday & Saturday, 9:30 am4:30 pm, Public Restrooms: Open MondaySaturday, 9:30 am4:30 pm. 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. Overwatering is a common cause of death, so water only when the soil is dry and don't let the plant sit in water. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is the traditional flower associated with Christmas and the top-selling flowering potted plant in the United States. Press Esc key to exit and to go to the next section at any time. This article was most recently revised and updated by, Merry and Bright: 8 Jolly Christmas Plants, https://www.britannica.com/plant/poinsettia, Clemson Cooperative Extension - Home and Garden Information Center - Poinsettia, University of Minnesota Extension - Growing and caring for poinsettia, Texas A&M University - Homeculture Update - Poinsettias, National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Poinsettia protoplasts - a simple, robust and efficient system for transient gene expression studies, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Horticulture and Home Pest News - Guide to Selection and Care of Poinsettias, poinsettia - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), poinsettia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [14] All flowers in the Euphorbiaceae are unisexual (either male or female only), and they are often very small in size. Flor . It is the first known phytoplasma that has economically advantageous effects. 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. N. I. Vavilov followed up work on the origin of cultivated plants by a Swiss botanist named A. Alphonse de Candolle. Ecke, who lived inCalifornia, discovereda technique which caused seedlings to branch, resulting in a fuller plant. Now, thereason blazing red (and now pink, white, orange, plus combinations of these colors) poinsettias are the Christmas flowerin the United States is an accidental discovery by Joel Roberts Poinsett (17791851), an American statesman and the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1828. Enjoy all that theTidal Schuylkill Riverhas to offer. Poinsettia plants are native to Central America, most commonly in southern Mexico, where they flower during the winter. Type 2 or more characters into the input search below for suggested results, use up and down arrow keys to navigate through suggest box. They form a circle around a cluster of small yellow flowers on the plant. The beautiful red part of the poinsettia isnt actually a flower! In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. 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. In reply to This is such a limited by Lauren Tartaglia (not verified). For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Poinsettia, Paul Ecke Sr. first started selling poinsettias in roadside stands. You cant talk about poinsettias without mentioning the name Paul Ecke. She was poor, and had no gift to give him. He studied anthropology, historical archaeology, and American Civilization at the University of Pennsylvania, and has written extensively on the history of Bartrams Garden and the Bartram family plant collections. The bill passed by Congress, specifically honors Paul Ecke Jr.s contribution to the development of the poinsettia industry, and the ways in which he positively impacted the lives of others around him. a plant, Euphorbia (Poinsettia) pulcherrima, of the spurge family, native to Mexico and Central America, having variously lobed leaves and brilliant scarlet, pink, or white petallike bracts. A milky latex in the stems and leaves can be irritating to persons or animals sensitive to it, but the claim that poinsettias are deadly poisonous is greatly exaggerated. by. Like many of America's Thanksgiving staples, the poinsettia. Easter lilies and dogwood trees are linked to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and because of this, they are two of the symbols of Easter. Feb. 1, 2023. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Bartrams Garden is located in Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape people. Here are five things you should know about Central America. This happens if purchase through an affiliate link but the price the the same for you. It was introduced to the United States in 1828 and got its name from Joel Roberts Poinsett. noun. [38] The discovery of the role phytoplasmas play in the growth of axillary buds is credited to Ing-Ming Lee of the USDA Agricultural Research Service. White poinsettias symbolize Christs purity. In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. A. The poinsettia, a red-leafed plant that appears everywhere around Christmastime, first came to the United States in the late 1820s. December 18, 2021. Philadelphia, PA 19143 Updates? [39], Albert Ecke emigrated from Germany to Los Angeles in 1900, opening a dairy and orchard in the Eagle Rock area. Celebrate Santas List Day Find Out Who Is On The Nice List This Year. 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. There are over 100 different varieties of poinsettias that come in many colors. As part of his mission to expand cooperation between the two countries, Poinsett shipped plants and seeds between Mexico and the United States. You may also see it written as La Flor de la Nochebuena, which means Flower of Christmas Eve. 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. The poinsettia ( / pnst ( i) /; [1] [2] [3] Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. [24] It can induce asthma and allergic rhinitis in certain groups of people. FACT CHECK: Our editorial staff aims to be accurate and fair in all posts. In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. [27] Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became poinsettias. The poinsettia was described as a new species in 1834 by German scientist Johann Friedrich Klotzsch. It is in the same family as frangipani and milkweed. 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. Now that you know the poinsettia isnt actually a flower, its interesting to think that poinsettias are one of the flowers that represent this month! Poinsett had attended medical school himself, but was a dedicated, almost obsessive botany-lover. Philadelphia nurserymen also used the name Poinsetts euphorbia and around 1832 Robert Buist began using Euphorbia poinsettia for the new plant. They also come in pink, white, orange, salmon, burgundy, speckled, and marbled. Since graduating from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jess has been living and working in Los Angeles, CA. Resources and opportunities especially forneighborsin Southwest Philly. (Grahams new genus Poinsettia has since been returned to Euphorbia. Conditions that promote poinsettia propagation also favor certain diseases. In Euphorbia, the flowers are reduced even more and then aggregated into an inflorescence or cluster of flowers. 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.). A few years later, due to the commercial & arts development in Hollywood, he was forced to move south to Encinitas where the Paul Ecke Ranch continues to produce poinsettias today. Youll know all the history behind them, and their connection to the museum. Then touch the surface of the soil. This is why red and green are the colors of Christmas today. Check out our Christmas quotes video on YouTube. 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. His father was a prominent physician and as a boy, Poinsett was educated by his father and private tutors. 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. Click to see our Privacy Policy, Christmas is here, bring on the poinsettias!! What appear to be flower petals are actually leaves (called bracts). 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. It is actually the plant's leaves that provide its color through a process called photoperiodism. When did poinsettias originate? [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. The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 716 centimetres (2.86.3in) in length. C. Carl Linnaeus. Poinsettias were cultivated by the Aztecs of Mexico long before the introduction of Christianity to the Western Hemisphere. March 1, 2023, Publication date: In their native environment, poinsettias grow like a shrub and can reach heights of up to 15ft tall. The colored "flowers" are actually specialized leaves called bracts, while the true flowers are inconspicuous beads found in the center of the bracts. Avoid drafts, keeping temperatures between 65 and70F. Poinsettias are often used during this day. He also appeared on television programs like The Tonight Show and Bob Hope's Christmas specials to promote the plants. Join usyear-round to learn, make, share, and wonder. Poinsettia plants are native to Central America regions, from southern Guatemala to Mexico. Poinsettia was one of my mother's favorite plants.La flor de Pascua era una de las plantas preferidas de mi madre. He gave free plants to talk shows, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which they featured on air. It has been hypothesized that the inaccessibility of the canyons may protect the wild populations from human disturbance. To get off to a good start, protect your new plant from cold temperatures and chilling winds on the way home from the store. Joel T. Fry has served as curator for Bartrams Garden, the home of John and William Bartram in Philadelphia, PA, since 1992. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Every year, just after Thanksgiving, it emerges en masse at nurseries, big-box retailers, fundraisers, and holiday parties. 80% of the poinsettias sold in the United States come from Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California. The coast is lowlands, but the rest of the countries are made up of . Poinsett was Secretary of War and loathed Indigenous Americans, helping to force them westwards which is ironic since this plant is native to the Americas and was so important in Indian history. [16][17] Triterpenes are found in aerial part of this plant including latex and leaves.
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