The case to rename this famous Christmas plant. Chapter 2.

an estimated 20,000 native Cherokee people were forcibly removed from their homes and sent west.It was a part of the Trail of Tears ethnic cleansing, which led to the displacement of some 100,000 indigenous people.That solidified Poinsett's standing in history as a proponent of American expansion.

The poinsettia is this.Also known as cuetlaxochitl, one of its earliest names, la flor de nochebuena, the Christmas star, the lobster flower, the flame leaf, and Euphorbia pulcherrima.This plant, which typically has potted leaves with vibrant red and green hues, is common during the holiday season in the US.It is less clear how it got here historically though.And it's all tied together by Joel Poinsett's contentious legacy.

Poinsettias are native to this region, from Mexico down into Central and South America.It was given the Aztec name cuetlaxochitl, which means "flower that withers.And in the wild, these plants resemble tall shrubs that bloom in the winter, unlike the potted varieties we see today.
A prized plant, it.

The vivid red colored leaves (which are leaves and not actually petals) were used to dye textiles, while the sap of the plants was utilized medicinally.And by the 17th century, perhaps because of those crimson leaves that bloomed in time for the holiday season, Spanish friars utilized the flowers to construct spectacular nativity scenes in Mexico.

It was given the name "flor de nochebuena," or "Christmas Eve flower," by Spanish-speaking Mexicans.Furthermore, It was given the Aztec name cuetlaxochitl, which means "flower that withers."And unlike the potted variety we see now, these plants resemble tall bushes that bloom in the winter when they are in the wild.
It is a valuable plant.

While the plants' sap was used medicinally, the vibrant red leaves—which are truly leaves and not petals—were used to colour textiles.
And by the 17th century, Spanish friars were using the blooms to create magnificent nativity scenes in Mexico, possibly as a result of those crimson leaves that bloomed in time for the Christmas season.It was permanently associated with Christmastime for many people in the nation.

For hundreds of years, the plant's native regions were generally the only places where people were familiar with it.Until Joel Poinsett, that is.In 1825, Poinsett, a diplomat, amateur botanist, and South Carolina native, was appointed as the first ever US minister to Mexico.According to legend, he discovered cuetlaxochitl in the town of Taxco, gathered some cuttings, and sent them to the US to share with his fellow botanists.

They eventually became popular in the US as well.They made their debut in a Philadelphia flower exhibition in 1829.In the US, nurseries started producing and distributing the plants.And the "Christmas plant" became extremely popular.

In honor of Joel Poinsett's legacy, the name "poinsettia" persisted.One that would expand to include not just the minister to Mexico but also the US Secretary of War and a founding member of the Smithsonian Institute.

But his reputation is tarnished.
Consider Poinsett's tenure as minister to Mexico, where he actively sought to strengthen American influence there.
In one letter to Secretary of State Martin Van

Buren, he discussed the possibility of "enlightening minds with liberal ideas" and shared his opinions on the Mexican populace.
Saying that the aborigines were and still are the lowest class of human beings, the Spaniards had "continuous relations with them.helped make Mexicans a more illiterate and debauched people.

Poinsett, who had owned slaves in the past in the US, thought that racial hierarchy between the indigenous and "white Creole" population could aid in Mexico's development.
Poinsett also wanted to widen the boundaries of America.This is how the US seemed at the time.and he was given the job of negotiating an agreement to purchase Texas from Mexico.But before he could work..