Euphorbia subg. Poinsettia 1858, but promoted to subgenus rank by Homer Doliver House in 1924. Recent studies have confirmed its monophyly. Its many species include: The common name "wild poinsettia" is sometimes applied to two of these species. Euphorbia subg. Poinsettia Euphorbia" subg. "Poinsettia is a subgenus deriving from the genus "Euphorbia", and is endemic to North America. <nowiki> </nowiki>It contains around 24 species, of which the best known is "E. pulcherrima", the poinsettia. This species grows wild in the mountains on the Pacific slope of Mexico, and despite many legends, no one is quite sure from which wild populations the cultivated varieties
Poinsettia also mildly irritating to the skin or stomach and may sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting if eaten. Sap introduced into the human eye may cause temporary blindness. An "American Journal of Emergency Medicine" study of 22,793 cases reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers showed no fatalities, and furthermore that a strong majority of poinsettia exposures are accidental, involve children, and usually do not result in any type of medical treatment. POISINDEX, a major source for poison control centers, says a child would have to eat 500 bracts (poinsettia leaves) to accumulate levels of toxins found to be