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Show CONTRIBUTION Joel Poinsett, U.S. Statesman, Noted for Flower Although he was a brilliant statesman, states-man, and the friend of four American Ameri-can presidents, Joel Roberts Poinsett Poin-sett is famous chiefly because he introduced the Mexican plant known as the "Painted Leaf", of "Mexican Fire Plant" into the United States. Poinsett, then U.S. ambassador to Mexico, called the plant to the attention of -American botanists and grew the plant himself as a hobby at his South Carolina home, after he left Mexico. The plant grew heavily in American Amer-ican favor especially popular at Christmas time and was renamed poinsettia, in honor of the man who brought it to this country. Contrary to popular impression, the flaming red bracts of the poinsettia poin-settia are not flowers, but leaves, and it is for these bracts that the plants are grown. . It is possible to have variations of either pink or white varieties, as well as of the more usual red, popular because it carries out the holiday color scheme of rich bright red with a contrast of the dark green of the leaves. The beautiful poinsettia, almost a "must" as far as Christmas decorating deco-rating is concerned, is one of the most temperamental of plants. The poinsettia thrives in its native Mexico, but elsewhere must be handled carefully perhaps pampered pam-pered slightly. However, the brilliantly bril-liantly colored flowers it has at ' Christmas time is reward enough j for any efforts needed to make the plant thrive. Constant warmth is needed by poinsettias. Temperatures should be kept between 70 and 80 degrees during the day and no less than 65 degrees at night. Any sudden change in temperature and drafts will cause the plant to drop its leaves. Abundant water is also a necessity, neces-sity, but it should be applied but once a day so that the plant may become moderately dry between waterings. This permits needed oxygen to reach the roots. Try to give the poinsettia the sunniest spot available. It is wise to fertilize it occasionally with a good commercial food tablet. |