...... everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence.

Mourning Dove Salish 1888-1936

The flower of Atatürk

Traditionally these are prolific in winter time in Australia, why?   They flog these off around Christmas time as Christmas plant type decorations.  They don't do that well at that time of the year here because it is summer in Australia.  Right now they are flowering everywhere beautifully as they do around Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere where they originated.

In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuitlaxochitl (from cuitlatl, residue, and xochitl, flower) meaning "flower that grows in residues or soil." The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication.

IMG 1651.CR2 Poinsettia Stamens (Photo credit: Images @ Melonpopzdropz)Image by Mezza - Poinsettia  http://www.flickr.com/photos/melonpopzdropz/