Poinsettias are as familiar around Christmas time as decorative trees, outdoor light displays, fruit cake and visits to Santa Claus.In fact, the potted flowering plants are usually given as gifts or bought as decorations for homes and church altars.The plants, featuring large red bracts (modifi ed leaves) and dark green leaves, aren’t native to the U.S. They hail from Mexico and Central America, according to online articles. They weren’t introduced into the States until a century ago. The plant acquired its English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, according to an online article. He ...