The Flor de Pascua, or poinsettia, is an essential part of Christmas in the Canary Islands and they grow wild, mostly on the northern slopes of the island, but are native to Central America. The Aztecs put the plant to practical, as well as decorative, use and from its bracts they extracted a purplish dye for use in textiles and cosmetics. The milky white sap, today called latex, was made into a preparation to treat fevers.
© Barrie Mahoney 2012
This article is part of the book 'Message in a Botttle'' by Barrie Mahoney.
You can find out more about the author and this book by clicking here
