Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

you-FOR-bee-ah  pull-KEH-rah-mah

Euphorbiaceae

Explanation of name: Generic name for Euphorbus, physician to Juba, King of Mauritania (DEH).  Pulcherrima means very pretty.

Natural range: Mesoamerica

Recognition: This is the familiar Poinsettia used for winter decoration. It is an evergreen shrub with milky sap, variable lobed-serrate leaves, extremely conspicuous petal-like bracts usually red (to pink or white)

Landscape uses: Potted flower. Can grow to small tree, useful as border or accent. Easily damaged and cold sensitive. Sap reputed (debatably) to be toxic.