210 FAMILIAR FLOWERS OF FIELD AND GARDEN. 



itself is inconspicu- 

 ous, but the five 

 white petal-like ap- 

 pendages and the 

 white leafage are 

 the interesting part 

 of the plant ; Eu- 

 phorlna imlchey'vima, or 

 Poinsettia, is its near rela- 

 tive, which comes to us from 

 Mexico. This variety is 

 characterized by a group of 

 bright scarlet leaves termi- 

 nating the branches. It is 

 most successful as a hothouse 

 plant in the colder climate 

 of the North, and its insig- 

 nificant flowers, surrounded 

 by the vermilion leaves, ap- 

 pear in the winter. The 

 plant was named for Mr. Poinsett, who was minister 

 to Mexico in 1828 and also secretary of war under 

 President Van Buren. 



Fireweed. The fireweed, curiously enough, flour- 



Great Willow-herb. . , ^ ^ -^ ^ i 



islies on ground which lias been at 



angustifoUum. some time burned over. That tract of 



country which lies between JVIontpelier and Wells 



Maximilian's Sunflower. 



