The poinsettia is most often seen as a
potted plant at
Christmas time. But in my yard they grow taller than the house.
There are many varieties of poinsettia which are reproduced by
cloning. Poinsettia clones easily from small cuttings. both
of these poinsettias were
started that way.
This is a closer view of a white
(actually cream
colored) poinsettia. The green flowers are bunched in the center. The
colored bracts, modified leaves, are often mistaken for petals.
This is a closer look at the flowers.
Each lumpy
green flower has a large yellow gland on its side. At the top, a
fly is polinating a poinsettia flower.
This is a "double" red poinsettia.
Notice that it
has many more red bracts than a "single". There are small bracts
attached to the individual green flowers, These fit the
definition of petals.