Fuchsia macrostigma Benth. var. longiflora

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1847 [JD].  ‘From the collection of Messrs. Veitch and Sons, Exeter, who gratified the Members of the Horticultural Society by the exhibition of it at their rooms in Regent Street, April 18th, 1848, when the large silver medal of the Society was awarded to it.  It was then stated to be the F. Loxensis of Humboldt, and one of the handsomest Fuchsias yet in cultivation, its dark green leaves and brilliant scarlet flowers, with which the white-lobed stigma nicely contrasts, rendering it extremely attractive: to this character of its beauty may be added the blood-red colour of the flowering branches, and rich purple of the underside of the leaves, contrasted with the almost velvety rich green of their surface.  I have only to dissent from its being considered the P. Loxensis of Humboldt, whose figure (Gen. et Sp. P1. vol. vi. t.536) is certainly quite at variance with our plant, as is the F. Loxensis, Benth. in “Plante Hartwegiane” n.733.  The form and size of the leaves, and the size of the flowers, and, above all, of the stigma, are strikingly different in the two; and the present is assuredly a most distinct and undescribed species.  It is not, indeed, entirely unknown to me; for I possess specimens of it in a collection sent by Mr. Seemann, of H.M.S. Herald, gathered in September, 1847, at “Pambo de Yeerba buena, El Equador.”  Mr. Veitch’s plant, from Mr. Lobb, is probably from the same country; though the “mountains of Peru” are given as the station in the Gardeners’ Chronicle; but the “Andes of Cuenca” is the true station, and this, I think, accords with Seemann’s locality.  Mr. Lobb himself spoke of it in his letter to Mr. Veitch as the “loveliest of the lovely, found in shady woods and growing from two to four feet high.”’  [BM t.4375/1848].  ‘It has only to be seen to be admired, being without doubt the most beautiful of the hitherto introduced species.’  Veitch and Son, advertisement.  [Gard. Chron. 1849].  FC p.145/1848.  FS f.359-360/1848.  GC p.319/1848.  Gard. Chron 1850, which includes a woodcut.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.495/1850].

Notes