The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-14
PAGE s
Poinsett and the Poinsetda.

In New Orleans as in Charleston
the poinsettias "are bursting into
glory in greater profusion than for
many years" the seasons during
the autumn and summer having
been highly favorable to the full
and perfect development Of this
gorgeous plant, and the New Or
leans Times -Picayune declares that
there is scarcely a garden along
upner ST. Charles avenue sld 9TH
ers Of our especially floral streets
that does not slcam with splashes
Of botanical fame" The Times
Picayune then goes on to pay this
charming editorial tribute to tho
great Charlestonian to whom the
people of the United States owe
the flower which bears his name:
What a marvellous monument to
man those flowers are! And yet
how few now recall the truly re-
mariable man, statesman, scientist,
orator, adventurer, botanlst, writer,
whom North America Tn~st-thanS
for the introduction ef the flower
that wears modification of his
name. We refer, of course. to Joel
Roberts Poinsett, Of South Caro-
lima.
Just for poetic justice Of the
thing, may we not assume that the
flowers themselves, by their unH~'ial
profusion, wish TO celebrs a
double anniversary. Seventy ,ears
ago, on December -, Poinsett died
full Of age and honors, but thirty
years before that time Joel Poln-
sett, aged forty-two was a repre-
sentative in congress from his state
and during the winter of 1S2l-22,
because OF his familiarity with
foreign peoples gained by years Of
world rambling, was sent on a spe-
cial mission to Mexico. Then as to-
day and, we may say, as during
most of the interim, we were. on
uncertain terms with our southern
neighbor. The Poinsett mission
was successful; at the conclusion OF
his congressional term the young
statesman was made minister to
Mexico and there negotiated a colo-
mercial treaty Of unusual wisdom
and breadth Of view. =
But We hasten too rapidly. 1t
was during the winter of 1S2l-22
just mentioned that Poinsert, d bot
anist Of talent and enthusiasm;
made the acquaintance in the Mex
lean wilds Of the then Flor de
Parque," a member Of the euphor-
bia family of unrivaled size and
beauty. We might explain right
here, for fear of arousing the crati-
cisu OF our botanical friends, that
the flower as popularly looked upon
/ is not a flower at all. Only the
! tiny yellow center IS a flower and
| the scarlet points we commonly
think Of as petals are merely en-.
Target bracts. Poinsett was quick
| to recognize the possibilities of the.
! flower if transplanted to QUIZ south
ern states and as hothouse plant
the world over He introduced It
/ here and in his honor it was call
ed Poinsettia, a pretty name tnaE
was at once adopted and now re-
mains in general use. The full title
is Poinsettia pulcherri1na (most
! beautiful Poinsettia}.
80 much for the flower, but joel
PoinSett was by no means done
scaling the ladder of. fame. The
South Carolinian was sent on dip
lomatic missions to South America,
where he became the hero OF dra-
matte episodes and displayed mill
tary ability and personal courage OF
a remarkable character. He was
minister of war under President.
Van Buren,, won fame in literature
and in several branches OF science.
He loved Mexico and opposed the
! Mexican war"
! 1t is interesting to have Inc
Times -Picayune recall just at this
time the fact that it was nun
dred years ago this winter that Mr.
Poinsett brought back the Pom
settia pulcherrima from Mexico
fact which few people here In
his home city probably had thought
of. if indeed many knew OF it. The
coincidence that the poinsettias this
winter are unusually prefuse and
lovely is a striking one, and more
striking still is the fact that here
in Charleston it has SO happened
that more poinsettias have been
planted during the past year than
ever before. They are flaming
now in hundreds Of gardens all over
the city.-Charlesto News and
Courier