IT'S FLOWER FRIDAY

It is Flower Friday and SURPRISE....I have some flowers to share...recently taken at the Mitchell Park Conservatory in Milwaukee...a horticultural display area.
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This flower resides in the Arid Dome as it's a desert plant.  This is the flower of the Crown of Thorns plant (Euphorbia milii).  Crown of Thorns is a deciduous, herbaceous, perennial shrub with bright green leaves and greenish flowers. The flowers are enclosed within long-lasting and bright bracts of red or yellow. The plant is loose in form, spiny and irregularly shaped, with thick, black spines and its historic presence in the Middle East led to the belief by some that the stems of this plant had been used in Christ's crown of thorns, hence the common name. In its country of origin (Madagascar) the plant will grow to 5 or 6 feet tall; however, in the United States, it typically grows to 3 feet, or 2 feet when grown as a houseplant.
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The "yellow" part of the inflorescence is not actually part of the flower.  The actual flower is in the center of the yellow petal-like structures which are, technically, called bracts.  The actual flower, as you can see, is greenish in color and this is true for all varieties of this plant.
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EXTRA: The stem of this plant is well armored and, as noted above, is believed to be the basis of the "crown of thorns" placed on Christ's head prior to his crucifixion.
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Like all member of the Genus Euphorbia, the plant exudes a milky sap that is quite toxic to dogs, cats, and humans.  That includes Rubber Trees...which are often cultivated as household plants.  Be sure your pets are kept away from this plant as it is quite toxic for them.  That includes YOU...don't get any sap on your fingers and accidentally put them in your mouth or rub your eyes until you have washed thoroughly.
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BEST IN LARGE.