Last Friday was National Poinsettia Day in the United States. National Poinsettia Day marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. minister to México who introduced the native Mexican plant to the United States in the 1800s.
Poinsett would ship cuttings of the plant to his greenhouse in Greenville, S.C., where he would later propagate them and send them to friends and botanical centers around the United States. Poinsett became the namesake for this popular holiday plant.
The poinsettia plant was developed by the Aztecs and was known to them as Cuitlaxochitl, which means “star flower.” Aztec Kings Netzahualcyotl and Montezuma prized the plant.
Now the poinsettia plant is called La Flor de la Nochebuena (Flowers of the Holy Night) in México.
The Christmas tradition of decorating with poinsettias is attributed to a 16th century Mexican legend. According to the legend, Pepita, a poor girl gathered weeds on the roadside to place at the altar to celebrate the birth of Christ. Embarrassed about the humbleness of her gift, Pepita started crying as she approached the altar; bright red flowers sprouted from the weeds, commencing the plant’s association with Christmas.
Another legend has its origin in the 17th century when it is alleged that during a Christmas Eve ceremony, plants Franciscan priest placed at the nativity scene miraculously turned red. From that Franciscan tradition, the star-shaped leaf pattern has come to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, with the red color symbolizing the blood sacrifice of Jesus.
The poinsettia is genetically relative of the rubber plant (from which latex is derived) and its sap contains a substance similar to latex. The Aztecs used the latex-like sap from the poinsettia to counteract fever.
Based on a 1995 poll by the American Society of Florists, over half of the U.S. population erroneously believes poinsettias are poisonous. The plants are not poisonous; although people with allergies to latex should not handle the plants.
The poinsettia is the best-selling potted plant in the United States, outselling all other potted plants combined.
(from UrbanTimes)
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