poinsettia

This page is about the eponym poinsettia

Meaning

a Mexican plant with specialized bright red leaves called "bracts" surrounding small yellow flowers. It is a popular houseplant at Christmas.

For example

  • We always have a poinsettia on our living room table at Christmas time.

  • Red and white poinsettias were placed all over the church before Christmas mass.

Note:
There are over a hundred varieties of poinsettia available today. Their bracts are often red or white but may also be pink, green or speckled.

Origin: Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851) was a botanist and the first US ambassador to Mexico. He introduced the poinsettia plant to the USA in 1825.

Quick Quiz

What part of the poinsettia is usually red?

a. its flowers

b. its bracts

c. its roots
a) its flowers b) its bracts c) its roots

Contributor: Tara Benwell