Agriculture Report - How Poinsettias Flowered Into an American Favorite

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1825	1920s,	Americans	Babies	Christmas	From	Learning	People	Special	States
a	are	as	bracts	grow	growing	hear	how	is	it
poinsettia	program	sick	small	sold	supplier	that	the	trees	yellow

VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report in English. Poinsettias are the best-selling potted flowering plant in United States and, they are a traditional part of celebrations. That is why almost all of them are in the wintertime. The Department of Agriculture estimates that bought $250 million worth of poinsettias last year. The is native to Central America and needs warmth to . Bright red poinsettias are the best known. But there about 100 different kinds, in colors including white, pink, and purple. The flowers of the poinsettia are very . Around the flowers are colorful leaves called bracts. These are what give the plants their beauty. The poinsettia named for Joel Roberts Poinsett from South Carolina. In President John Quincy Adams appointed him as the United ' first minister to Mexico. He saw the colorful plants in the wild there. He liked them so much he sent some cuttings back to the United States. who are allergic to the latex produced by rubber can develop a mild skin rash from poinsettia plants. and pets that chew on the plants can get . But experts say the plant is not as poisonous some people think. Then, there is the question of to say poinsettia. Do not be surprised if you someone say "--.poin-set-uh--." Both pronunciations are common. In the Albert Ecke and his son Paul became interested in poinsettia's ability to flower in winter. Paul Ecke thought would be a good plant for Christmastime. They started farm in California. Today, Ecke Ranch remains a major to the United States and the world. For VOA English, I'm Laurel Bowman (Adapted from a radio broadcast 18Dec2012)

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