Friday Flower Porn: Sexiness o' the Season

Jingle my bells, baby!

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Figuring out what plant this floral naughty bit belongs to should be about as difficult as knocking back a hot steaming cup of solstice glog.

Here's the full photo of the showy bracts of the Euphorbia pulcherrima which surround small central flowers. The history and diseases of poinsettia cultivars are reviewed here. These euphorbs have ethnobotany going for them since they were used for medicinal purposes by traditional healers in Central and South America.

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Here's one of my favorite mutant poinsettias.

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(Photos from my little Nikon CoolPix S9)

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Is that a mutant or the results of a virus similar to the tulip breaking potyvirus [mosaic virus]?

By natural cynic (not verified) on 22 Dec 2006 #permalink

Although I am not 100% certain, I believe the variegation is due to somatic mutations in the genes of the poinsettia's (apical meristem) chromoplasts.

"Although I am not 100% certain, I believe the variegation is due to somatic mutations in the genes of the poinsettia's (apical meristem) chromoplasts."

I love it when you talk dirty.

By Suesquatch (not verified) on 22 Dec 2006 #permalink