The beautiful poinsettia grows tall and bushy in some southern climates. It is actually a native of Mexico. In warm weather it is covered with green leaves, but these turn yellow and fall off when the weather becomes cold. Meanwhile, beautiful red, pink or creamy white “bracts” have been growing. These bracts look like flowers but are actually part of the leaf system. In northern climates, small poinsettia plants are grown in greenhouses and are familiar to us as potted plants during the winter holidays. Poinsettias are not poisonous, as some thought.
Each stem of this plant contains a green ball, forming part of the bract. This holds the actual flowers, which are quite plain. Inside the female flowers is the seed-bearing pistil. Inside the male flowers, pollen-bearing staminates appear. These flowers stand erect and are without petals such as ordinary flowers display. But both kinds of flowers are equipped with something ordinary flowers do not have. On the side of each green ball, a yellow, funnel-shaped “honey jar” grows, gradually filling with sweet nectar.
When the female flower becomes mature, it grows six little arms at one end. When these appear, it is as if it were saying, “I am ready for the pollen necessary to produce seeds.” But it cannot produce the pollen itself. This must come from one of the male pollen-producing flowers.
Now we see the purpose of the bracts with their bright leaves and honey jars attached. Bees, butterflies and other insects are attracted to these bright colors and sweet smells. They go into the various flowers to get the delicious honey. When they enter the male flowers with pollen-bearing stamens, they become covered with pollen. As they move from flower to flower, they brush against the pistils of the female flowers, leaving some pollen on them. This is called pollination. From this pollinated pistil another crop of seeds will be produced.
Besides getting honey, some of the insects enter the flower for another reason. They lay their eggs inside the poinsettia, and the plant is used as a source of food when the larvae hatch.
We see again that God has neglected none of His creation. Whether animals or plants, He is always watching over them. Here is one of the many instances where He has arranged for two entirely different species to help one another. The insects get their food from the honey jars, and the plants are pollinated so that their species continues.
ML-12/06/2009