Holiday colors emerge

Poinsettias were introduced to the United States in 1828. The flowering plant, indigenous to Guatemala and Mexico, has now become one of the major symbols of the holiday season. The Aztecs derived a red dye from the crimson leaves of the plant. (The red leaves are not flower petals.) Later, the bright red plants were used by the Franciscans in Mexico to decorate churches at Christmas time.

December 12 is National Poinsettia Day!