Poinsettia

The poinsettia is a commercially valuable flowering plant species in the Euphorbiaceae spurge family. The poinsettia, native to Mexico and Central America, was first described by Europeans in 1834. It is well-known for its red and green leaves and is frequently used in Christmas flower arrangements. Its popular English name comes from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico, who is credited with bringing the plant to the United States in the 1820s. Poinsettias are shrubs or small trees that grow to heights of 0.6 to 4 meters (2.0 to 13.1 ft). Despite popular belief, the poinsettia is not poisonous to pets or children.

Exposure to the plant, including intake, usually has no impact, however it might produce nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Wild poinsettias thrive on mid-elevation, Pacific-facing hillsides from Mexico to southern Guatemala. However, one population in the Mexican state of Guerrero is regarded to be the progenitor of most farmed populations. Wild poinsettia populations are greatly dispersed due to uncontrolled deforestation in their environment. The Aztecs grew them for use in traditional medicine. They've become synonymous with the Christmas season and are popular seasonal decorations. Every year, around 70 million poinsettias of various cultivars are sold in the United States over a six-week period.