Flowers of the Christmas Star: From the Bethlehem Miracle to the Greenhouse Poem The symbol of the Christmas Star in the botanical world has several manifestations, each connected with legends, natural cycles, and cultural adaptation. The main contenders for this title are two plants: Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) and Hippeastrum (amaryllis). Their histories reveal how nature and human culture together create festive symbolism. 1. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) – The Bethlehem Star from Mexico This plant is the most recognizable "Christmas flower" in the world. Its red, pink, or cream-colored bracts surrounding the unremarkable yellow cyathia form a shape reminiscent of a multi-rayed star. Legend of the miracle: The Mexican legend says that a poor girl named Pepita, who had no gift for the baby Jesus, was advised by an angel to gather a humble bouquet of roadside weeds. When she placed it at the altar, the weeds miraculously turned into fiery-red "Christmas Eve flowers" (Flores de Nochebuena). Their shape became reminiscent of the Bethlehem Star. Scientific fact: What we consider the flower is actually modified leaves (bracts). They change color (a photoperiodic reaction) during the period of short daylight, which in Mexico coincides with the Christmas season. The real flowers are small yellow cyathia in the center. Path to worldwide fame: In the 1820s, the first US ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett (in whose honor the plant was named), being a botanical enthusiast, sent samples to the US greenhouses. The commercial success of the poinsettia is due to the family Ecke (California), who in the 20th century bred stable varieties and launched a massive marketing campaign, firmly linking the plant with Christmas. Interestingly, December 12 in the US is celebrated as National Poinsettia Day, coinciding with Poinsett's death. 2. Hippeastrum (Hippeastrum) – The Knightly Star with a Long Life This bulbous plant with large funnel-shaped flowers on a ... Read more