Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch
Poinsettia
Poinsettia is native to Mexico and Central America, but its stunning red and green foliage makes it extremely popular as a cultivated plant, especially at Christmas. The common name derives from Joel Robert Poinsette (1775-1851), a botanist, and the first US Minister to Mexico. Many cultivars are available.
Plants: Natural plants are shrubs or small trees 2–13′ (60–400 cm) in size. They are semi-evergreen, sometimes dropping leaves in the winter.
Leaves: Alternate, dark green, ovate or dentate, 2–6″ (6–16 cm) in length. The brilliant red “petals” are actually bracts (modified leaves). Cultivars are available with pale green, orange, pink, white, cream, or even marbled bracts.
Flowers: The actual flowers are inconspicuous, and cup-shaped, grouped in the cyathia.
Fruits: Three-lobed smooth globose capsules are ½–¾ ⨉ ½″ (1.5–2 ⨉ 1.5 cm), containing ovoid seeds ⅜ ⨉ ~5/16″ (1 cm ⨉ 8–9 mm) in size.
Habitats: Tropical dry forests, mostly on steep slopes facting the Pacific Ocean.
Edibility: Long believed poisonous, this turns out to be an urban legend. There are no recorded fataliities, human or animal. The mikly sap can cause a mild contact dermatitis, and ingestion can cause gastic discomfort.
Online References:
Poinsettia pulcherrima (Willd. ex Klotzsch) Graham
12/14/2024 · Tom and Susan’s, Topsham, Maine 
2/26/2012 · Joy and Jim’s, Manfield, Massachusetts · ≈ 13 × 11″ (32 × 27 cm) 
1/19/2006 · Pepperell, Massachusetts 
12/14/2024 · Tom and Susan’s, Topsham, Maine 
2/26/2012 · Joy and Jim’s, Manfield, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
12/26/2008 · Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1′ (59 × 39 cm) 
12/25/1977 · Falmouth, Maine 
12/14/2024 · Tom and Susan’s, Topsham, Maine 
1/24/2025 · Tom and Susan’s, Topsham, Maine 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Malpighiales | A broad group encompassing 16,000 species |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | Euphorbia or spurge family |
| Genus | Euphorbia | An extremely diverse-looking genus of mostly tropical and subtropical succulent plants. For Euphorbus, corpulent Greek physician of Juba II, King of Mauretania. Literally, “euphorbia” means “well-fed” |
| Species | pulcherrima | Most pretty or prettiest |
Euphorbia pulcherrima description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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