Fuchsia microphylla
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Fuchsia microphylla ssp aprica 2.jpg
|image_caption = Leaves and flowers of Fuchsia microphylla subsp. aprica
|genus = Fuchsia
|species = microphylla
|authority = Kunth (1823)
|subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
|subdivision = *Fuchsia microphylla subsp. aprica (Lundell) Breedlove
- Fuchsia microphylla subsp. chiapensis (Brandegee) P.E.Berry & Breedlove
- Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hemsleyana (Woodson & Seibert) Breedlove
- Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hidalgensis (Munz) Breedlove
- Fuchsia microphylla subsp. microphylla Kunth
- Fuchsia microphylla subsp. quercetorum Breedlove
|synonyms = *Fuchsia notarisii Lehm.
- Fuchsia uniflora Sessé & Moc.
- Fuchsia microphylla var. typica Munz
- Fuchsia minutiflora var. typica Munz
- (Fuchsia microphylla subsp. aprica):
- Fuchsia aprica Lundell
- Fuchsia microphylla var. aprica (Lundell) Munz
- (Fuchsia microphylla subsp. chiapensis):
- Fuchsia chiapensis T.S.Brandegee
- Fuchsia heterotricha Lundell
- (Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hemsleyana):
- Fuchsia hemsleyana R.E.Woodson & Seibert
- Fuchsia pulchella R.E. Woodson & Seibert
- (Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hidalgensis):
- Fuchsia minutiflora var. hidalgensis Munz
- (Fuchsia microphylla subsp. microphylla):
- Brebissonia microphylla Spach
- Fuchsia gracilis (Moc. & Sesse)
- Fuchsia mixta Hemsl.
- Fuchsia splendens hort.
- Fuchsia splendens hort. ex Dippel
- Myrinia microphylla Lilja
}}
Fuchsia microphylla, also known as small leaf fuchsia and small-leaved fuchsia, is a flowering shrub in the family Onagraceae.{{cite web |title=Plant database entry for Small Leaf Fuchsia (Fuchsia microphylla) with 16 images, one comment, and 33 data details. |url=https://garden.org/plants/view/158324/Small-Leaf-Fuchsia-Fuchsia-microphylla/ |website=garden.org |access-date=27 February 2021 |language=en}} The specific epithet (microphylla) was named for the plant's small (micro) leaves (phylla).
Distribution
Fuchsia microphylla is native to southern Mexico south to Panama.{{cite web |title=Fuchsia microphylla Kunth |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/7322172 |website=www.gbif.org |access-date=26 February 2021 |language=en}} It can be found growing in oak and pine woods in Mexico or low thickets and exposed rocky places in Guatemala between {{convert|1200|and|3800|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} in elevation.
Description
It is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub which grows to {{convert|1.8|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} in height at a medium rate{{cite web|title=Fuchsia microphylla PFAF Plant Database |url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Fuchsia+microphylla#:~:text=Fuchsia%20microphylla%20is%20a%20deciduous,and%20is%20pollinated%20by%20Insects. |website=pfaf.org |access-date=27 February 2021}} and has a spread width of {{convert|3|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}. It is herbaceous, perennial, and hermaphrodite and is pollinated by insects. It flowers from September to October and attracts wildlife. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and USDA zones 8–11, and is not frost tolerant. It is cold hardy to {{convert|10|-|15|F|C}} with wall shelter. It grows well in light, medium, and heavy soils and prefers moist, well-drained soils. It is suitable for acid, neutral, and basic soils, and grows best in light and semi-shade conditions. The fruit is edible and is dark in color, round in shape, and measures up to 1.5 centimeters in diameter, although it normally measures 5 millimeters in diameter. The flavor is said to be sweet but mild. The plant is variable but usually grows erect, although in more shady woodland can develop climbing habits with stems {{convert|500|cm|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} long. It normally forms clumps or bushes. It is both dioecious and self-fertile.{{cite web|title=Fuchsia microphylla – Useful Tropical Plants |url=http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Fuchsia+microphylla |website=tropical.theferns.info |access-date=27 February 2021}} The flowers are not fragrant and are tubular, pendent, and pink in color, and are very small. The leaves measure up to 4 centimeters in length, although are normally much smaller. They are generally oblanceolate to obovate in shape, although can be ovate or lanceolate and are usually toothed, though some varieties are not. New growth is red and the plant can be grown in a pot. Plants in the section Encliandra are defined by the protrusion of only four stamens from the flower tube, rather than eight. The other four stamens are enclosed within the tube.{{cite web |title=Small-Leaved Fuchsia (Fuchsia microphylla) – Plants {{!}} Candide Gardening |url=https://candidegardening.com/US/plants/fc9589d3ef15d6a222fea3958b7a5663 |website=Candide |access-date=27 February 2021}}
Uses
The plant is grown as an ornamental and the berries are collected locally and eaten.
Pests
Fuchsia microphylla is vulnerable to whiteflies, capsid bugs, red spider mites, rust, aphids, black vine weevil, smut, gray mold, fuchsia gall mite, and fuchsia flea beetle. It is resistant to honey fungus and rabbits.{{cite web |title=Fuchsia Microphylla from Burncoose Nurseries |url=https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pl_id=1922 |website=www.burncoose.co.uk |access-date=27 February 2021}}
Hybrids
Fuchsia × bacillaris, a natural hybrid between Fuchsia microphylla and Fuchsia thymifolia, was documented in 1832.{{cite web |title=Fuchsia ×bacillaris Lindl. GRIN-Global |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=70879 |website=npgsweb.ars-grin.gov |access-date=27 February 2021}}
Subspecies
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Image | Name | Description | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120px | Fuchsia microphylla subsp. aprica (Lundell) Breedlove | Leaf blades elliptic and atteuate at the base, 1.5–2.5 cm long x 0.5–1 (–1.5) cm; glabrous on flower and leaves; flowers are magenta. | Mexico (Chiapas), El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras. Found between {{convert|2700|–|3400|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. |
| Fuchsia microphylla subsp. chiapensis (Brandegee) P.E.Berry & Breedlove | Leaf blades cunate at the base, 3–4 cm long x 1.5–2 cm wide; pubescent on flora tube, young stems and leaves; flowers are red.{{cite journal | last=Berry | first=Paul E. | last2=Breedlove | first2=Dennis E. | title=New Taxa of Fuchsia from Central America and Mexico | journal=Novon | publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden Press | volume=6 | issue=2 | year=1996 | issn=1055-3177 | jstor=3391908 | pages=135–141 | url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/3391908 | access-date=2023-08-17}} | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (Chiapas) in montane rainforest, evergreen cloud forest, and wet pine-oak forest at elevations between {{convert|1800|–|2400|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. | |
| 120px | Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hemsleyana (Woodson & Seibert) Breedlove | Petiole 4–15 mm long; flowers are red. | Costa Rica, Panama in the understory of evergreen cloud forests on the high volcano between {{convert|1500|–|3100|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. |
| 120px | Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hidalgensis (Munz) Breedlove | Flowers are white. | Mexico (SE. Hidalgo to N. Puebla) in mixed evergreen forest with Pinus and Quercus between {{convert|1600|–|2200|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. |
| 120px | Fuchsia microphylla subsp. microphylla Kunth | Flowers are magenta. | Mexico (Jalisco, Hidalgo, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz) in Pinus, Quercus, and Abies montane cloud forest between {{convert|2100|–|3200|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. |
| Fuchsia microphylla subsp. quercetorum Breedlove | Flowers are red. | Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala in open Pinus, Quercus, and Liquidambar forest between {{convert|1500|–|2200|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. |
Gallery
File:Fuchsia microphylla.jpg|Branches of Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hemsleyana
File:Fuchsia microphylla ssp hidalgensis 1.jpg|Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hidalgensis
File:Fuchsia microphylla (9536260928).jpg|Fruiting branch of Fuchsia microphylla
File:Starr-110307-2508-Fuchsia microphylla-leaves and flowers-Kula Botanical Garden-Maui (25051861376).jpg|Erect Fuchsia microphylla plant
File:Fuchsia microphylla 1c.JPG|Fuchsia microphylla plant at the Botanical Garden of Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Fuchsia microphylla|Fuchsia microphylla}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Fuchsia microphylla|Fuchsia microphylla}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q15333909|from2=Q49548134|from3=Q49548128|from4=Q49547986|from5=Q55861619}}
Category:Plants described in 1823
Category:Flora of Central America
Category:Taxa named by Carl Sigismund Kunth