On National Poinsettia Day we"re taking an up-close look at a poinsettia leaf. Although many people assume the red, white, pink, purple, or marbled colors are flowers, they"re actually bracts, a type of leaf that aids in reproduction, usually by turning color as the plant develops true flowers. On the poinsettia, the bracts, surrounding small yellow clustered buds called cyathia, flag down pollinators just as flower petals do.
What are we looking at?
Today in History
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Christmas Tree Point Road and Twin Peaks, San Francisco
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National Park Service anniversary
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Find a Rainbow Day
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How Quảng Ngãi got its grove back
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Salmon migration in full swing
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National Park Week begins
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Dancers perform ‘Revelations’
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Pandas pucker up for International Kissing Day
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Burchells zebras for International Zebra Day
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Breaking the fast for Eid
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Holidays in the Venetian Lagoon
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World Art Day
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Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
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Ancient groves in Australia
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Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, Bavaria, Germany
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A desert arts pop-up, just popped up
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Memorial Day
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Badlands National Park turns 44
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Bryce Canyon National Park turns 100
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In the belly of Fat Bear Week
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Glacial rivers in Iceland
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Back on the rise
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Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England
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Enter the magical world of Livraria Lello
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A march toward a dream
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Guiding ships to safety
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Mexican giant cardon cactus
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Moose, Denali National Park, Alaska
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Rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái province, Vietnam
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Up, up, and away for Hot Air Balloon Day