poinsettia, n.All

The Poinsettia is the plant world’s equivalent of delinquent teenagers, usually found congregating in shopping malls and loitering outside drugstores during the holidays.

The Poinsettia is the December birth flower and is considered by the ancient Aztecs to be symbols of purity, good cheer, success and is said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration.

The poinsettia is also called the 'Christmas star flower' after a Mexican legend in which a child, with no means for a grander Christmas gift placed weeds at the church alter, which turned into brilliant red and green flowers

The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, first United States ambassador to Mexico and the amateur botanist who introduced the plant to the U.S. in 1825

The poinsettia is also called Mexican Flame Leaf, Winter Rose, Noche Buena and, in Turkey, Atakurk's Flower, because it was the favorite flower of Atakurk, the founder of modern Turkey