Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 Public Domain. Release under the CC BY Attribution license--http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/--Credit both “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California Send requests to address or e-mail given USC Libraries Special Collections specol@usc.edu
Description
Photograph of a close-up of a specimen of a poinsettia plant with over three-dozen bracts and inflorescence, ca.1920. The bracts appear to be dry. The two leaves appear to have been pulled from the branch and artificially replaced. On a light neutral background. "Although the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherima) is among the most traditional symbols of the Christmas season, it was cultivated by the Aztecs of Mexico long before the introduction of Christianity to the Western Hemisphere. These plants were highly prized by Kings Netzahualcyotl and Montezuma, but because of climatic restrictions could not be grown in their capital, which is now Mexico City. Perhaps the first religious connotations were placed on poinsettias during the seventeenth century. Because of its brilliant color and holiday blooming time Franciscan priests, near Taxco, began to use the flower in the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre, a nativity procession. Joel Robert Poinsett first introduced poinsettias into the United States in 1825. Today, poinsettias are one of the most important floricultural crops produced in the United States. Grown primarily as a potted plant for the Christmas season, total U.S. poinsettia production was valued at $66 million in 1980. This represents over a 300% increase in production over a 10-year period. Poinsettias also represent a major floricultural crop in Texas. At present poinsettia production is valued at approximately $9 million annually and involves over 700 producers statewide. Because of the growing population statewide, the demand for potted poinsettias has increased throughout Texas. Although demand is highest from approximately December 10th through the 25th, there is an increasing interest in plants for the growing Thanksgiving Day market." -- unknown author.
Type
image
Format
2 photographs : glass photonegative, photoprint, b&w 26 x 21 cm. glass plate negatives photographic prints photographs
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