The Wonders of God’s Creation
The beautiful Poinsettia grows tall and bushy in some southern climates. In warm weather it is covered with green leaves, but these turn yellow and fall off when the weather becomes cold. Meanwhile, beautiful crimson-colored “bracts” have been growing on the stems, which are not affected by the cold (unless there is a real freeze). These make the plant lovely and attractive. They look like flowers, but are actually part of the leaf system. In northern climates, small Poinsettia plants are often grown in greenhouses, and are familiar to most of us as they are potted and marketed during the winter holidays.
Each stem of this plant contains a green ball, forming part of the “bract.” This holds the actual flowers, which themselves are not very pretty. Inside some of these flowers is the seed-bearing pistil. In others, pollen-bearing staminates appear. They just stand erect and are bare, without petals, such as ordinary flowers display. But they 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 a sweet nectar.
When the female flower, containing the pistil, but no stamen, 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.” The problem is that it cannot produce the pollen itself. This must come from one of the pollen-producing flowers.
Now we see the purpose of the “bracts,” with their bright red 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 ones with stamens, they become covered with pollen. As they move from flower to flower, they brush against the pistil of the female flower. This is called pollination. From this pistil another crop of seeds, new plants and flowers will be produced.
Besides getting honey, some of the insects enter the flower for another reason. They lay eggs inside the Poinsettia, and the plant is used as a source of food when the little ones hatch.
We see again that God has neglected none of His creation. Whether animal, fish, plant or any other object, 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 can continue.