poinsettia

Everyday

A plant from Mexico with large bright red (or pink or white) leaves around small yellow flowers, popular at Christmas. tree →

In the lessons

An everyday and festive word: poinsettias decorate homes, churches and shops at Christmas. In science lessons, the red parts are not petals but special leaves called bracts. Named after Joel Poinsett, a US ambassador to Mexico.

Examples

• We bought a poinsettia for the Christmas table. tree →
• The red parts of a poinsettia are leaves, not petals. tree →
• Poinsettias come from Mexico. tree →
• The church was decorated with red poinsettias. tree →
• Keep a poinsettia warm and away from draughts. tree →
• In Mexico the poinsettia is called the Christmas Eve flower. tree →

Note

Countable. Spelling trap: p-o-i-n-s-e-t-t-i-a; many people say «poin-SET-a». A myth: poinsettias are often said to be deadly to children and pets; they can cause an upset stomach or skin rash but are not deadly. Still, do not eat them.