Poinsettia Coloring Book

The poinsettia, often called the Star of Bethlehem, is a plant native to Mexico, popular mainly during the holiday season. It is known for its bright, often red leaves, which, although they look like flowers, are actually a special type of leaf called bracts. True poinsettia flowers are small and yellow, located in the center of the bracts. Poinsettias, though beautiful, are poisonous to pets, so they should be kept away from cats and dogs.

Information

1. Origins:
   The poinsettia is native to Mexico. In the wild, it grows as a shrub or small tree in tropical rainforests.
2. History in the US:
   The plant was popularized in the United States by Joel Poinsett, the first American ambassador to Mexico. That's why Poinsettia Day is celebrated in the US on December 12 in honor of Poinsett.
3. Bracts:
   What most people think of as poinsettia flowers are actually colored bracts. The real flowers are small yellow structures in the middle of these bracts.
4. Colors:
   Although the red poinsettia is best known, the plant comes in many color varieties, including white, pink, yellow and multicolored.
5. Growth conditions:
   Poinsettias prefer bright, direct light and constant temperature. Avoid drafts, low temperatures and excessive humidity.
6. Toxicity:
   Although poinsettias are often said to be highly toxic, they are weakly poisonous to humans. However, they can cause skin and gastrointestinal irritation. For animals such as dogs and cats, ingestion can cause symptoms such as vomiting and drooling.
7. Resilience:
   Although poinsettias are associated with the holiday season, with proper care they can live and bloom all year round.
8. Trimming:
   To maintain the form of the shrub and encourage flowering again, poinsettias can be pruned after the holiday season.
9. Tradition:
   In Mexico, poinsettias are a traditional symbol of Christmas, with their red bracts symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, which, according to the Bible, led the Three Kings to the stable in Bethlehem.
10. Varieties:
    Thanks to breeding work, many varieties of poinsettias have been created, varying in size, shape and color of the bracts.

Trivia

1. Poinsettia Day:
   In the United States, December 12 is Poinsettia Day in honor of Joel Poinsett, who popularized the plant in the US. This holiday commemorates the date of his death in 1851.
2. Poison myths:
   Although poinsettias are widely believed to be deadly poisonous, they are actually weakly poisonous to humans. However, ingestion of large amounts by pets can lead to ailments.
3. Significance in Mexico:
   In Mexico, poinsettias are called "Flor de Nochebuena," which means "Flower of Christmas Eve" or "Flower of Holy Night."
4. Poinsettia in nature:
   In its natural habitat in Mexico, the poinsettia can reach the size of a small tree, growing up to 4 meters tall.
5. Color varieties:
   Thanks to breeding work, poinsettias are now available in many colors, including pink, white, yellow and even multicolored, although the traditional red color remains the most popular.
6. Changing leaves:
   Those beautiful poinsettia "flowers" we see are actually leaves that change color in response to short days.
7. Difficulty in flowering again:
   Although poinsettias can live all year round, it is a challenge to get them to bloom again under home conditions. It requires special care and a strictly defined amount of light per day.
8. Milk Juice:
   Like other plants in the wolfberry family, poinsettias have a white, milky sap that can cause skin irritation in some people.
9. Poinsettia in literature:
   This plant has been immortalized in numerous literary works, songs and films as a symbol of Christmas.
10. Largest manufacturer:
    The United States is one of the largest producers of poinsettias in the world, with California as the main state producing this festive plant.