Poinsettia `140` is a stiff-stemmed, early flowering cultivar with dark red flower bracts. It has dark green foliage and a strong branching habit. The stem length is relatively short and chemical growth retardants may not be needed to control the height of flowering plants. Because of its early flowering `140` can be grown in a relatively cool greenhouse, making it more economical to grow commercially.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
This new Poinsettia cultivar `140` originated as an induced mutation of a 
seedling from cross pollination in my greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. The 
seedling was designated `I-85`. Cultivar `140` was selected because of its 
early flowering, short stature, dark red flower bracts and dark green 
foliage; traits which distinguish it from other Poinsettia cultivars and 
seem to make it a desirable plant for commercial greenhouse production. 
Cultivar `140` was strongly self-branching, unlike the parent `I-85`. 
Further, `140` is typically shorter than other poinsettia cultivars by 
several centimeters, including `I-85`. Because of its stronger branching, 
`140` typically finishes at an overall height of 35 cm while `I-85` is 
nearer 38-40 cm. Cultivar `460`, which has some characteristics similar to 
`140`, is significantly taller, attaining a height of about 43 cm after 
self-branching. After selection, stem cuttings of cultivar `140` were 
vegetatively reproduced for test purposes in Encinitas, Calif., and clones 
of this plant were subjected to successive generations of vegetative 
propagation which demonstrated that its distinctive characteristics hold 
true from generation to generation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT 
The following is a detailed description of this new Poinsettia as observed 
in my greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif., during December 1989. Observations 
were recorded from flowering plants, grown as 3 unpinched plants per pot. 
The pot was 14 cm. in diameter and 11 cm. in height. Color designations 
are compared to the 1986 edition of R.H.S. Colour Chart, first published 
in 1966 by the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. 
The Plant 
Origin: Induced mutation `I-85` (non patented); Cultivar `140` was induced 
by application of the procedures set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,276 to 
`I-85`. 
Classification: 
Botanic.--Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. 
Common name.--Poinsettia. 
Cultivar name.--`140`. 
Form: Shrub. 
Height: Short. 
Growth habit: As a single stemmed plant, upright and short. The application 
of a chemical growth retardant may not be needed to restrict height for 
commercial pot plant production. I observed 3 plants in a pot with an 
overall height of 35 cm. and an overall width of 48 cm. In contrast, 
`I-85` attains an overall height of 38-40 cm. The self-branching cultivar, 
`490`, typically attains a height of 43 cm. The bract diameter of 
individual flowers was 30 cm. 
Branching: Poinsettia `140` has self-branching traits. Axillary branches 
will develop and terminate in a flower without pinching. It may be 
desirable to pinch `140` and remove all terminal dominance. Then 5-7 
axillary branches will develop uniformly. Even after pinching, `I-85` 
usually develops 4-5 axillary branches. 
Growth rate: Rooting of stem cuttings occurs in 12-18 days under 
intermittent mist. The plant will flower in about eight weeks under 
continuous long night conditions and night temperatures of about 16-18 
degrees C. 
Foliage: The foliage is clean and uniformly dark green from bottom to top 
of the plant. The leaves are of medium size, leaf blades typically being 
about 14-15 cm. long and about 9-10 cm. wide with leaf petioles about 6 
cm. long. 
Leaf shape.--Typical leaves are ovate with obtuse bases and acuminate tips. 
Leaf margins are usually lobed with 1 or 2 indentations of each side of 
the leaf blade. 
Color.--Upper side -- Dark green, darker than R.H.S. 147A. Under side -- 
Greyed green, darker than R.H.S. 191A. 
Retention.--The foliage lasts extremely well even under low light 
intensities in the consumer's home. 
Bracts: Generally there are 24-27 uniformly colored bracts of various sizes 
subtending the cyathia. The primary bracts have blades typically 16-17 cm. 
long and 10-11 cm. wide with petioles about 3 cm. long. 
Shape.--Bracts are mostly ovate with obtuse to acute bases and acuminate 
tips. Primary bracts are lobed with 1 or 2 indentations on either side of 
the bract. Secondary bracts have entire margins. 
Color.--Upper side -- Dark red, a little lighter than R.H.S. 46A. Under 
side -- Dark red, lighter than R.H.S. 46A. 
Flowers: Generally, 15-18 cyathia (flowers) are present when the plant is 
in full bloom. Each cyathium is about 7-8 mm long and about 5 mm wide, 
green in color and fringed with red at the distal end. One yellow nectar 
cup protrudes from the side of each cyathium. The flower pedicel is also 
green and about 5 mm in length. The stamens protruding from the cyathia 
are red.