Ink painting/drawing of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) infected with poinsettia branch-inducing phytoplasma.

The painting shows a bushy poinsettia, with two red bract clusters (formed from modified leaves), green oval central flowers, and green leaves under the red bracts.

Infection with phytoplasma is a good thing for cultivation! It has helped lead to poinsettias becoming an incredibly important ornamental plant worldwide. Infection leads to the formation of many side-shoots and red bract clusters, producing a short, attractive, branching plant.

Top: scanned image

Bottom: photograph