La Planta De Navidad

Christmas is definitely not far away, what with climbing Papá Noels everywhere, turrón lined supermarket shelves and avenues planted with ponsettias. They look really nice. I told Toffee about the history of the plant but he showed little interest. His only interest in plants is those that are edible. I don't think he will be a botanist when he grows up.

Factoid: Poinsettia - Euphorbia pulcherrima. No plant is more redolent of Christmas than the Poinsettia with its gorgeous exotic looking bracts set against large almost velvety dark green leaves. Also known by its beautiful Spanish name of flor de nochebuena, or "flower of Christmas Eve," the poinsettia is indigenous to Central America and tropical Mexico. The story goes that a poor Mexican child on her way to church on Christmas Eve wept because she had no gift to place before the altar of the Virgin and Child. Through her tears, an angel suddenly appeared and instructed her to gather weeds from the roadside. When the child arrived at the altar with her wilted offering, starry crimson "blossoms" burst forth from every stem.

Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first United States Ambassador to Mexico being appointed by President Andrew Jackson in the 1820's. He took cuttings from the plant and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina. The Poinsettia was named after him.