lobster plant
Noun: 1. A tropical American plant: A flowering plant native to tropical regions of the Americas, known for its distinctive and colorful appearance. 2. Botanical characteristics: It is characterized by having a toxic, milky sap and showy, brightly colored bracts (modified leaves) that taper to a point and often resemble petals. These bracts, frequently scarlet in color, surround the plant's small, less conspicuous yellow flowers.
- Noun:
- The garden's highlight was a vibrant lobster plant with brilliant scarlet leaves.
- Be careful when handling the lobster plant; its milky sap can irritate the skin.
- Horticultural Context: The term is used by gardeners and botanists to specifically refer to plants of the genus , more commonly known as the poinsettia. The name "lobster plant" is a descriptive common name referencing the color and sometimes the shape of its bracts.
- In some regions, the lobster plant is a popular holiday decoration.
- Poinsettia (n): The most widely used common name for the same plant ().
- Christmas Star (n): Another common name, emphasizing its traditional use during the Christmas season.
- Bract (n): A specialized leaf, often brightly colored, from which a flower grows. This is the botanical term for the showy red "petals" of the lobster plant.
- Poinsettia: The standard synonym.
- Christmas flower: A synonym emphasizing its seasonal association.
The term "lobster plant" is a common name for a specific botanical species. Its meaning is fixed to Euphorbia pulcherrima and is defined by the combination of its toxic sap, small yellow flowers, and most notably, its large, showy, tapering red bracts. It does not refer to a plant that cultivates or attracts lobsters.
- tropical American plant having poisonous milk and showy tapering usually scarlet petallike leaves surrounding small yellow flowers