SCARLET FUCHSIA. 277 



Mr. Lee, of Hammersmith, was the first of our 

 nurserymen who had this plant for sale, which, 

 from its great beauty, brought a high price for 

 several years, until its easy propagation became 

 generally known. 



This plant was named Fuchsia, in honour of 

 Leonard Fuchs, a famous German botanist, of the 

 sixteenth century, and we do not find that it bears 

 any other name in Europe, nor have we been able 

 to ascertain its original South American name. 



We have placed the Fuchsia in the language 

 of flowers as the emblem of taste, for with its 

 richly-coloured blossoms, there is a peculiar har- 

 mony and beauty in the unassuming appearance 

 of the flowers, which hang with so much grace- 

 fulness from amongst the elegant-shaped foliage 

 of this plant. The length of the stamens also 

 add greatly to the beauty of these pendent blos- 

 soms, having the appearance of so many gems 

 suspended from a small roll of the richest violet- 

 coloured ribbon, over which the beautiful carmine 

 calyx hangs like a half-expanded parachute, al- 

 lowing only a glimpse of the purple petals to be 

 seen between the openings, the whole being 

 headed by an emerald -coloured receptacle for the 

 seed. The calyx buds before they are expanded 

 have the appearance of ripe barberries, and the 

 young branches and the leaves of the plant have 



