Red Poinsettias and Rainbow

by Venetia Featherstone-Witty

Title

Red Poinsettias and Rainbow

Artist

Venetia Featherstone-Witty

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

Taken in Boquete, Panama. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family. The species is indigenous to Mexico. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett,the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the US in 1825.
The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 7 to16 centimetres (2.8 to 6.3 in) in length. The colored bracts which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled and are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves.The colors of the bracts are created through photoperiodism, meaning that they require darkness (12 hours at a time for at least five days in a row) to change color. At the same time, the plants require abundant light during the day for the brightest color.There are over 100 cultivated varieties of poinsettia.
The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.

Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.
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December 11th, 2016

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