From that day forward, the poinsettias were called Flores de la Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night. There is a nice legend associated with it. Visions of Grandeur. 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*. Winter Rose Red. Population sizes are frequently very small, with as few as a dozen individuals. We have poinsettias in the United States because of a man named Joel Roberts Poinsett. California remainsthe top U.S. poinsettia-producing state. This is the most likely route for plants of the poinsettia to Bartrams Garden. 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. To find the real (Nahuatl) name for this beautiful plant, check out the real history on my Facebook page. He began growing the plant in the tens of thousands for the Christmas season, when other flowers were scarce. Through the marketing efforts of Paul Ecke and his sons, the poinsettia has become symbolic with Christmas in the United States. They brought back artifacts to display in Washington, DC (in what is now part of the Smithsonian). Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. Looking for more inspiration for the holidays? Mark 11:25 Feb. 16, 2023, Publication date: 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. They are named after the first U.S. Minister to Mexico Joel Poinsett, who introduced the plant to. In Euphorbia, the flowers are reduced even more and then aggregated into an inflorescence or cluster of flowers. 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. 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 . Always the Holidays (RJS & CGS Enterprises LLC) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Poinsettia plants are native to Central America, especially an area of southern Mexico known as 'Taxco del Alarcon' where they flower during the winter. [14] All flowers in the Euphorbiaceae are unisexual (either male or female only), and they are often very small in size. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 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. Skin exposure to the sap may cause itchiness, redness, or swelling. The Aztecs referred to poinsettia as "cuetlaxochitl" (brilliant flower), while the Maya called them "k'alul wits" (ember flower). 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. Populations were once found in rolling hill areas, though many have gone extinct. Holidays are my favorite times of the year, because there's no feeling like celebrating with friends and family. 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. Poinsett, Maclure, Say, and Keating all arranged for Mexican seeds of plants to be sent to Bartrams Garden. See whatsblooming, find a favoritetree, and stroll thegardensand natural lands. 1. The holotype had been collected in Mexico during an 18031804 expedition by Alexander von Humboldt and Aim Bonpland. Poinsettias are also one of the two birth flowers of December (the other is Narcissus). Poinsettias are not poisonous. The presence of the true flower indicates the plant is still relatively young, he said. Categories Christmas, Fun Facts, Holidays. ), 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. Enjoy all that theTidal Schuylkill Riverhas to offer. You may be surprised to know that poinsettias are not actually flowers! [32] In the US, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, marking the anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsett's death. The plant now known as poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is native to the pacific coast of Mexico and has an ancient history of human use. 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. Aztec people loved poinsettia plants because they produced a bright red dye. Resources and opportunities especially forneighborsin Southwest Philly. Overwatering is a common cause of death, so water only when the soil is dry and don't let the plant sit in water. As you can see from the poinsettia story, poinsettias have long held religious significance. 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 true flowers, called cyathia, are the small structures in the center of the bracts. He later established Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California. Creating this institution was a big task and there wasnt a clear idea how it would work. 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. hessy wa kayole pictures. They were cultivated by the Aztecs for use in traditional medicine. 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 arent always red! William Maclure returned briefly to Philadelphia in the fall of 1828, and he brought yet more Mexican seeds and plants with him. The colorful part of the poinsettia that we enjoy isn't a flower. The Christmas flower, also called the poinsettia flower and the poinsettia plant, is native to southern Mexico and Central America. In 2002, an Act of Congress made it official. 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. 7 C. 8 D. 20 E. 25, 2. Despite its short sales period, poinsettia contributed $170 million to the U.S. economy last year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. [11] In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called cuetlaxchitl, meaning 'flower that grows in residues or soil'. 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. [11] In Spain it is known as flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning 'Easter flower'. Different colors are the result of chance mutations from the original red.. They also used the poinsettias' milky white sap wax to create a medicine to treat fevers. No fertilizer is needed while the plant is in bloom. Check out this post featuring 27 Christmas plants. Although it's probably not a good idea to have a competitive-eating contest with poinsettia bracts since they could cause diarrhea, research has shown that a child could consume as many as 500 poinsettia bracts without any toxic effects [source: Perry].A tot who accidentally nibbles on a leaf may not . The birth flowers of December are Narcissus and Poinsettias. When did poinsettias originate? [5] This misconception was spread by a 1919 urban legend of a two-year-old child dying after consuming a poinsettia leaf. Please add the Indigenous history of the Cuetlaxochitl before Ambassador Pointsett introduced it in the US. A common myth that has existed for generations is that a poinsettia's leaves are poisonous. The colorful part of the poinsettia that we enjoy isnt a flower. 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. Many Americans only see poinsettia plants when they are wrapped in tinsel on the holiday table. Though often stated to be highly toxic, the poinsettia is not dangerous[4] to pets or children. Call Santas phone number, or write a letter to Santas address at the North Pole! Vavilov recognized _____ centers of origin of cultivated plants. In addition, it's bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and numerous bays, gulfs and inlets. The poinsettia's small flowers are surrounded by colorful leaves called bracts. The son of a French physician, Poinsett was appointed as the first United States Ambassador to Mexico (1825-1829) by President James Madison. 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. Here are five things you should know about Central America. Find out more about Jess here. The history of the poinsettia begins with an old Mexican legend and, later, a major American business venture. 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. As she lay the stems near the manger at the local church's nativity scene, they burst forth with red blossoms. Dont forget to check out Santas list to see if youve been naughty or nice this year. December 12 has been officially designated by the U.S. Congress as National Poinsettia Day in honor of the first Ambassador to the new Republic of Mexico, Joel Poinsett, as well as of American businessman, Paul Ecke Jr., who later successfully marketed the poinsettia worldwide. Philadelphia nurseryman Robert Buist 1st sold the plant as Euphorbia poinsettia, although a German botanist had already given the plant the botanical name Euphorbia pulcherima. . Buist was a great popularizer of the new plant, but has undeservedly received major credit for its introduction. One of the noteworthy exhibits was A new Euphorbia with bright scarlet bracteas or floral leaves, presented to the Bartram collection by Mr. Poinsett, United States Minister to Mexico. There can be no doubt that this was the poinsettia, now known as Euphorbia pulcherrima. Shop for plants or grow food, trees, and more. Its natural habitat is thus highly fragmented, particularly near metropolitan areas such as Taxco. 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. 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. [15], Pulcherrol and pulcherryl acetate are among the components of latex.