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Toothed Poinsettia Winter at Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve is the time when plants prefer to do their work beneath the soil in preparation for the renewal rites of spring. Therefore, from mid-November through mid- March, the Preserve’s beauty lies in the shapes of the bare trees against the winter’s sky and the textures of the dry grasses and other plants that soften the landscape. However, there are some plants that remind us of the seasonal flowers that appear in the nurseries, floral shops and various other stores in late November and throughout December. Of course, the most popular seasonal plant during this time of year is the poinsettia. The Toothed poinsettia is a close cousin to the poinsettias we used to decorate our homes during the holidays. Even though it blooms July through September, it is this December’s plant of the month because it evokes the holiday spirit. The Toothed poinsettia is an attractive native annual with multiple hairy stems ascending from the taproot. The flowers are small and insignificant without petals and occur in clusters at the ends of branches. They are surrounded by green bracts which sometimes turn reddish late in the season. The leaves are coarsely toothed, and all parts of the plant contain a milky sap. It grows well in dry or moist soil.
Primitive people used the poisonous saps of this and other spurges on arrow tips, and spurges have also been used in dyes, medicines and oils. Even though the Toothed poinsettia peaks long before December and is not evident during the cold winter months, it’s worth a trip to visit the Preserve from July through September to see it and all the other plants in bloom during that time of year. Botanical name: Euphorbia dentate Common name: Toothed poinsettia Family: Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia/Spurge) Genus: Euphorbia Species: Dentata Visit www.santafebotanicalgarden.org to learn more about how Santa Fe Botanical Garden celebrates, cultivates and preserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of the region.
Visit www.santafebotanicalgarden.org to learn more about how Santa Fe Botanical Garden |
Care should be used in handling, because it can be irritating to the skin and eyes, and it is poisonous if ingested. 