Euphorbia pulcherrima is the botanical name for the plant Poinsettia, named after Joel Poinsett. To which country was he the first United States Minister, before they had ambassadors?
Poinsettia Poinsettia The poinsettia ( or ) ("Euphorbia pulcherrima") (also known as "Christmas Star") is a commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The species is indigenous to Mexico. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the US in 1825. "Euphorbia pulcherrima" is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of . The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure in
Joel Roberts Poinsett flower, or "Catarina"). Poinsett, an avid amateur botanist, sent samples of the plant to the United States, and by 1836 the plant was widely known as the "poinsettia". Also a species of Mexican lizard, "Sceloporus poinsettii", is named in Poinsett's honor. In 1830, Poinsett returned to South Carolina to espouse the Unionist cause in nullification quarrels and to again serve in the South Carolina state legislature, from 1830 to 1831. In this capacity, Poinsett was President Andrew Jackson's confidential agent. Between October 1832 and March 1833 his correspondence kept Jackson abreast of the evolving situation in their home state, helping