#December 12, 1851
#OTD Joel Roberts Poinsett, American #Physician & #Diplomat, died.
As the US #Ambassador to #Mexico, Joel came across a #New plant & sent it home to #SouthCarolina. #Botanists first called it the #Mexican #Fire #Plant. Today we call it the Poinsettia.
The #Botanist Karl Wilenow named the Poinsettia the Euphorbia pulcherrima. Pulcherrima means "very beautiful."
And so, to #Remember Joel Poinsett, #Today is #National #Poinsettia #Day.