Christmas and Poinsettia

Christmas is round the corner and poinsettia is a common plant during this festive season. Also, it is not uncommon, the hear people describing it as a RED flower. Do you know that the red part of the plant is actually a modified leave - look closely at the picture below, imagine the red portion as green. Does it look like a leave to you now? The flower of the poinsettia plant is actually the small portion at the centre.



Another modified leaf, common in Singapore, can be found in the bougainvillea plant. The purplish-pink part are the modified leaves and the tiny white centres are the flowers.


Nature is so intriguingly wonderful. Do you know that the Pitcher's Plant, the spines of the cactus and the tendrils are actually modified leaves?! Grape and cucumber vines are also modified leaves. Due to their weak stem, these plants have vines helping them climb.