Euphorbia pulcherrima: shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of 2 to 16 ft. The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 3 to 6 inches in length. The top leaves, known as bracts, are flaming red, pink, or white and are often mistaken as flowers. The actual flowers are grouped within the small yellow structures found in the center of each leaf bunch, which are called cyathia. The species is found in the wild in deciduous tropical forest at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas, Guatemala and as far south as Nicaragua. It is also found in the interior in the hot, seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas and in temperate North Central Nicaragua. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuitlaxochitl meaning “star flower.” The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication. In both Chile and Peru, the plant became known as “Crown of the Andes” – from wikipedia. December 12th is National Poinsettia Day.