Fuchsia magellanica Lam. var. globosa (Lindl.) L.H.Bailey

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘The origins of this most distinct species is unknown to us.  The first specimen we saw was exhibited last March [1832] before the Horticultural Society by Mr. Dennis of Chelsea. […] We publish it with the name (F. globosa) it bears near London, given we know not by whom.’  [BR f.1556/1833].  ‘It produces its beautiful flowers during the whole of the summer, kept in a greenhouse, with plenty of air.  It appears to be more robust in its habit than most of its kind, retaining its leaves better in winter.’  [LBC no.1981/1833].  Paxton's Magazine of Botany noted that it was raised from seeds of Fuchsia conica by Mr. Bunny: ‘It is dwarf and somewhat spreading, and the slender branches are sparingly covered with leaves, which are not of a large size.’  The plant illustrated has only slightly reflexed sepals.  [MB p.75/1835].  ‘A very splendid kind, a most profuse flower; very small plants will bloom, even when but two or three inches high; the flowers are of a globular, or balloon shape, before they wholly expand, of a very bright red colour.  The plant will flourish either in the open border, or in a pot, and continue in bloom all the summer.  It is decidedly the best kind for growing in rooms.’  [FC p.176/1834].  ‘It is of more humble growth and has more trailing branches than any of the species with which we are acquainted of the same section; yet except in the very globose figure of the flower in the state of bud and the “balloon appearance” of the same when fully expanded, it would be difficult to point out characters by which it may be distinguished from its allies, especially the F. gracilis of Lindley and our gardens: and Mr. Don is probably correct in making it a variety of F. macrantha of Ruiz and Pavon, to which he also unites as other varieties, F. conica Lindl. Bot Reg. f.1556; F. gracilis Lindl. Bot Reg. f.847; and F. decussata Graham and Sims Bot Mag. t.216.  Our present plant Mr. Don considers to be wholly a production of the gardens.’  [BM t.3364/1834].  FC p.49/1833.

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.478/1843].

Notes