268 



FUCHSIA FUMAKIA. 



Fuchsia gracilis (Slender F.)A 

 handsome species, with finely pubes- 

 cent branches ; 6 to 10 ft. high. 

 Flowers, from early summer to October; 

 petals purple, convolute and retuse; 

 calyx scarlet ; sepals oblong, acute, 

 exceeding the petals; stigma undi- 

 vided. Leaves, opposite, glabrous, 

 long-stalked, remotely denticulated. 

 A variety (F. g. multiflora), haa 

 smaller and glaucous leaves and a 



conical stigma. Mexico. Warm 



borders, and fringes of shrubbery, in 

 sandy loam. Cuttings. 



Fuchsia magellanica (Fuegian F.) 

 Magellan F. A rather robust glabrous 

 plant, 3 to 6 ft. high. Flowers, in sum- 

 mer and autumn ; petals violet, obo- 

 vate, convolute ; sepals scarlet, oblong, 

 acute. Leaves, ovate-oblong, oroblong- 

 lance-shaped, acute or rounded at the 

 base, toothed, smooth, or minutely 

 pubescent underneath. Tierra del 



Fuego and Chili. Warm borders, 



or against sunny walls, in rich light 

 loam. Cuttings. 



Fuchsia microphylla (Small-leaved 

 J 7 .) A neat little species, 15 in. to 

 2 ft. high. Flowers, in autumn ; petals 

 bright rose-colour, irregularly incised ; 

 sepals oval, acuminate, dark-purple 

 or violet-carmine. Leaves, opposite, 

 small, thick, oblong- elliptical, smooth, 

 irregularly- toothed, dark-green on the 

 upper side, paler underneath. Mexico. 

 Warm borders, and on the mar- 

 gins of beds of choice shrubs, etc., in 

 light well-drained soil. Thrives in 

 the open air in the South of England 

 and Ireland. Division and cuttings. 



Fuchsia serratifolia (Saw-leaved F.} 

 A very handsome species with fur- 

 rowed branches, which, as well as the 

 leaf-stalks and midribs of the leaves, 

 are of a carmine red colour ; 6 to 8 ft. 

 high in warm countries. Flowers, in 

 summer, large ; petals oval -oblong, 

 orange-red or poppy-red, slightly wavy 

 on the margin; sepals lance-shaped, 



pointed, deep rose-colour, tinged with 

 green at the points, longer than the 

 petals. Leaves, in whorls of 3 or 4, 

 narrow, oblong, acute, edged with 



glandular teeth. Peru. In the 



southern counties of England and 

 Ireland, in rich, light, and well- 

 drained soil. Cuttings. 



Fuchsia thymifolia (Thyme-leaved F.} 

 A dwarf, tufted species, with slender 

 downy branches, which when young 

 are of a reddish colour. Flowers, in 

 summer ; petals rose-coloured, oboval- 

 oblong, entire. Leaves, nearly oppo- 

 site, small, oval or roundish-oval, 

 obtuse, hardly toothed, covered with 

 white down above, nearly smooth un- 

 derneath. There is a variety with 



large flowers. Mexico. The same 



treatment and positions as those re- 

 commended for F. microphylla. 



[Little or no mention is made in 

 botanical or gardening books as to the 

 Fuchsia's merit as a hardy plant, and 

 over the greater part of the country it 

 is only known as a greenhouse plant, 

 with the exception perhaps of one 

 neglected kind in the borders. But 

 near the sea all round our coasts, and 

 especially in the southern and western 

 parts of England and Ireland, several 

 species of Fuchsia are hardy, and are 

 perhaps the most beautiful objects in 

 the gardens. Some varieties, such as 

 Ricartoni, and many others, thrive 

 perfectly also. F. Dominiana succeeds 

 well in Cornwall. Frequently the 

 species and varieties are cut down by 

 frost, but spring up again vigorously 

 and live the life of herbaceous plants 

 in fact. Hence they find a place in 

 this book. But in mild districts, and 

 near the sea- coast, they frequently 

 escape being cut down for years, and 

 become large and handsome bushes]. 



Fumaria densiflora (Dense-flowered 

 Fumitory). A glaucous, much-spread- 

 ing species, about 6 in. high. Flowers, 

 from May to July ; of an intense pur- 



