''Fuchsia microphylla'', also known as small leaf fuchsia and small-leaved fuchsia, is a flowering shrub in the family

Onagraceae The Onagraceae are a family of flowering plants known as the willowherb family or evening primrose family. They include about 650 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''microphylla'') was named for the plant's small (''micro'') leaves (''phylla'').

Distribution

''Fuchsia microphylla'' is native to southern Mexico south to

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...

Description

It is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub which grows to in height at a medium rate and has a spread width of . It is herbaceous, perennial,

hermaphrodite In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes. Many Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrate ...

and is pollinated by insects. It flowers from September to October and attracts wildlife. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and US zones 8–11, and is not frost tolerant. It is cold hardy to 10–15 F (−12.2 to −9.4 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. It grows best in light and semi-shade conditions and can be found growing in oak and pine woods in Mexico or low thickets and exposed rocky places in

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

between in elevation. 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 sweet but mild. The plant is variable but usually grows erect, although in more shady woodland can develop climbing habits with stems long. It normally forms clumps or bushes. It is both dioecious and self-fertile. The flowers are not fragrant and are tubular,

pendent Pendent is an adjective that describes the condition of hanging, either literally, or figuratively, as in undecided or incomplete. The word is to be distinguished from the spelling "pendant", which is the noun. * In botany and anatomy the term ...

, 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.

Uses

The plant is grown as an ornamental and the berries are collected locally and eaten.

Pests

''Fuchsia microphylla'' is vulnerable to

whiteflies Whiteflies are Hemipterans that typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. They comprise the family Aleyrodidae, the only family in the superfamily Aleyrodoidea. More than 1550 species have been described. Description and taxonomy The ...

, capsid bugs, red spider mites,

rust Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH ...

aphids Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A t ...

black vine weevil Black vine weevil (''Otiorhynchus sulcatus'') is an insect native to Europe but common in North America as well. It is a pest of many garden plants. Overview The adult weevil is matte black with fused wing covers, and is unable to fly. It feeds ...

, smut,

gray mold ''Botrytis cinerea'' is a necrotrophic fungus that affects many plant species, although its most notable hosts may be wine grapes. In viticulture, it is commonly known as "botrytis bunch rot"; in horticulture, it is usually called "grey mould" or ...

, fuchsia gall mite, and fuchsia flea beetle. It is resistant to

honey fungus ''Armillaria'' is a genus of fungi that includes the '' A. mellea'' species known as honey fungi that live on trees and woody shrubs. It includes about 10 species formerly categorized summarily as ''A. mellea''. ''Armillarias'' are long-l ...

and rabbits.

Hybrids

'' Fuchsia × bacillaris'', a natural

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

between ''Fuchsia microphylla'' and '' Fuchsia thymifolia'', was documented in 1832.

Gallery

File:Fuchsia microphylla.jpg, Branches of ''Fuchsia microphylla'' subsp. ''hemsleyana'' File:Fuchsia microphylla 1.jpg, Leaves and flowers of ''Fuchsia microphylla'' subsp. ''hemsleyana'' File:Fuchsia microphylla ssp hidalgensis 1.jpg, ''Fuchsia microphylla'' subsp. ''hidalgensis'' File:Fuchsia microphylla ssp hidalgensis 3.jpg, Flowers and leaves of ''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 Chapultepec, more commonly called the "Bosque de Chapultepec" (Chapultepec Forest) in Mexico City, is one of the largest city parks in Mexico, measuring in total just over 686 hectares (1,695 acres). Centered on a rock formation called Chapultep ...

, Mexico

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q15333909, from2=Q49548134, from3=Q49548128, from4=Q49547986, from5=Q55861619 Plants described in 1823 Flora of Mexico microphylla Flora of Central America Fruit trees Taxa named by Carl Sigismund Kunth Dioecious plants Fruits originating in North America Ornamental plants