The poinsettia is named after which US diplomat?

The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, a United States diplomat who served as the first U.S. minister to Mexico. He was also a physician, botanist, politician, and later secretary of war.

Poinsett encountered the plant in Mexico and sent specimens to the United States in the 1820s. The species was subsequently cultivated and circulated among botanists, and the common English name “poinsettia” commemorates its association with him. Its botanical name is Euphorbia pulcherrima.

The colorful parts that look like flowers are actually modified leaves called bracts. The plant’s small true flowers sit at the center of those bracts. Although red is the classic holiday color, cultivated poinsettias are also available in white, pink, cream, and variegated forms.

Another common misconception is that poinsettias are highly deadly to people or pets. They can cause irritation and stomach upset if eaten, but the dramatic claim that a small amount is lethal is not supported by the evidence. The plant became especially linked with Christmas because its natural winter coloration coincides with the holiday season.