Taormina - Stella di Natale siciliana (Sicilian Poinsettia)

              L'Euphorbia pulcherrima nota come Poinsettia o Stella di Natale è una pianta ornamentale originaria del Messico, nazione nella quale cresce spontaneamente e dove, allo stato selvatico, può raggiungere anche un'altezza fra i due e i quattro metri, il nome "Poinsettia" deriva da Joel Robert Poinsett, il primo Ambasciatore degli Stati Uniti in Messico, il quale introdusse la pianta negli Stati Uniti nel 1825.Appartiene alla famiglia delle Euphorbiaceae, ordine Euforbiali (Euphorbiales), classe Dicotiledoni, divisione Angiosperme; all'interno del suo tronco e dei suoi rami vi è una sostanza lattiginosa (il lattice), leggermente irritante per la pelle ma altamente tossica per cani e gatti. La "Stella di Natale" si può considerare naturalizzata in Sicilia dove enormi arbusti svettano per due o tre metri di altezza.

Euphorbia pulcherrima, commonly named poinsettia, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Mexico and Guatemala. The name "poinsettia" is after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico,who introduced the plant into the US in 1828
In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuetlaxochitl meaning "skin flower." The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication.Today it is known in Mexico and Guatemala as "Noche Buena" or Christmas' Eve. In Spain its is known as "Flor de Pascua" or Easter Flower in English. In both Chile and Peru, the plant became known as "Crown of the Andes".The plants' association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.

Taken in: Italia / Sicilia / Taormina (show map)

Taken on: December 19, 2015

Tags:

Stella di Natale

Euphorbia pulcherrima

Flowers

Fiori

Fleurs

Flores

Flor

Blumen « less

Sets appears in: • Shrubs - Arbusti

Groups appears in: • flower power • Photographs of Italy more » • Flores • Flora and Fauna • Flowers, buds, seeds... • Flowers,flowers,flowers... any kind! • FlowersFree • Flower Photography • Flower Close-Ups • Sicilia • The Magic of Nature • FLORES-FLOWERS-FLEURS-FIORI-BLUMEN • FLOWER IN THE SKY • In A Country"FLOWER" Garden (NO BORDERS) • FlowerAddicts • Trinacria - La Sicilia in foto • Sicilia Sicily • Flowers Galore • FLORES E FLOWERS - • Flower Crazzzzzy!!!(ENTER THE 'NEW PHOTO OF THE WEEK CONTEST') • Welcome to this Group • Taormina, Etna and All Sicily • N A T U R E [no limits] • * FLOWERIA (no B&W, animals, seeds, leaves or fruit) • Flowers all kinds • NATURE ♥ unlimited ♥ (Public Group Forever) • Naturaleza Mundial - World Wide Nature • FLOWER LOVERS* • Sicilia orientale • FIORI(TUTTI I TIPI)(1 post-1 com-1 inv)-"24° GARA"- CHIUSA - • FLOWERS_INSECTS_AND_BUTTERFLIES // FLORES_INSECTOS_Y_MARIPOSAS • Flowers of gardens • Regional Geographic Sicilia • Fotosicule • Sicilia popolare e pittoresca - post 1, comment 2 • ♦♦♦ TUTTI I FIORI DEL MONDO ♦♦♦ • Floricultura - flores e poesia / flowers and poetry • Sicilia & Sicilia « less

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ38, f/4.5, 1/320 sec, 12.4mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ38
Aperture:	f/4.5
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/320)
Focal Length:	12.4mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Ver.1.0
Show full info

Stats: 1,748 views / 1 comment

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: