Joulutähti – Euphorbia pulcherrima

Stems and branches are stout and hairless. Leaves are petiolate, lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, sometimes fiddle-shaped, relatively thin, usually 12-20 cm long with pointed tips. Very small flowers are clustered in special structures called cyathiums. Each cyathium bears a tiny petal-less female flower surrounded by male flowers in a cup-shaped series of bracts. Each cyathium also bears a two-lipped, yellow gland. The cyathiums are grouped in terminal cymes, resembling umbels. The cyme in turn is surrounded by a series of large, bright red bracts (modified leaves). Fruit is a tri-lobed capsule, about 1.5 × 1.5-2.0 cm. Seeds are ovoid, more or less smooth, pale grey.