Poinsettia

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/poinsettia

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Euphorbia pulcherrima
2. What is the native region?Southern Mexico and Central America
3. Why does a poinsettia turn red?The red color comes from pigments called anthocyanins. The plant needs about 13 hours of darkness each day for a few weeks to grow those bright red bracts.
4. How can I grow a poinsettia at home?Keep it in a warm spot with about 10 hours of light and 13 hours of dark each day. Avoid bright lights during the dark period and give it good soil and water.

Bracts: Modified leaves surrounding the flower cluster, often brightly colored and serving to attract pollinators.
Photoperiodism: A physiological response of organisms to the length of day or night.
Cyathium: A unique type of inflorescence found in the genus Euphorbia, consisting of a cup-like involucre enclosing flowers.
Cultivar: A plant variety that has been produced by selective breeding and maintained through cultivation.