冬日之花：一品红(2/2)

英语自学网

概述：一品红是美国最热销的盆栽开花植物也是圣诞节庆祝的一项传统，来看一看和它有关的故事吧。
Hints:
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Latin
castor
tung
cassava
latex
poinsettia
Albert Ecke
Paul
Christmastime
Encinitas
California
Ecke Ranch
Agribio Group
校对： ciciwonder
翻译&注解： annmar
组长： zpdslshhz
答疑： fwlclover
发音点评： cherryxyr
本期材料发音模仿地址：http://bulo.hujiang.com/menu/11885/item/710537/The botanical name for the plant is Euphorbia pulcherrima. In Latin, that means "most beautiful euphorbia." There are hundreds of related plants, including rubber trees, trees that produce castor and tung oil, and the cassava, a root crop.
People who are allergic to the latex produced by rubber trees can develop a mild skin rash from poinsettia plants. Babies and pets that chew on poinsettias can get sick. But experts say the plant is not as poisonous as some people think.
In the 1920s, Albert Ecke and his son Paul became interested in the poinsettia's ability to flower in winter. Paul Ecke thought it would be a good plant to display at Christmastime.
They started a farm near Encinitas, California. At first, Paul Ecke, and later his son, grew large plants in fields. Then they sent them to growers by train. Growers would divide the large plants into cuttings, to raise smaller ones in greenhouses until the holidays.
In the 1960s came poinsettias that grew best in containers. The Eckes started to sell cuttings from these new plants. Today Ecke Ranch remains a major supplier in the United States and around the world. In August, Paul Ecke's grandson announced that the company was joining the Dutch-based Agribio Group.这种植物的学名是Euphorbia pulcherrima，在拉丁语中被誉为“最美丽的大戟属植物”。大戟属植物多达数百种，包括橡胶树、各种产蓖麻油和桐油的树木，以及木薯这类块根作物等。
对橡胶树分泌的乳胶过敏的人，会因接触一品红而引起轻度皮疹，婴儿和宠物若误食一品红也会感到不适，但专家称这种植物的毒性并非人们所想的那么厉害。
上个世纪20年代，阿尔伯特·艾克和儿子保罗开始对一品红在冬天开花的特性产生兴趣。保罗·艾克认为它非常适合用作圣诞摆设。
他们在加州恩西尼塔斯附近开了一家农场。首先，保罗·艾克（后由其子保罗）在农田里种植一品红的大型植株，然后他们将植株用火车运给种植者，种植者再将其分成插枝，作为种苗在温室里培育小型植株，直到假日来临。
盆栽一品红的培育在20世纪60年代日臻完美，艾克家族转而开始销售这些新品种的种苗。如今艾克农场仍是美国和世界各地一品红的主要供应商。今年8月，保罗·艾克的孙子宣布将公司并入荷兰Agribio集团。