Fuchsia regia (Vand. ex Vell.) Munz

Taxonomic Identity

Fuchsia regia (Vand. ex Vell.) Munz is an evergreen shrub that grows 1.5 to 5 meters tall, and can also grow as a liana reaching up to 15 meters high when climbing on trees.

Branch Characteristics

It produces slender, wine-purple pendulous branches that grow from the base of the trunk.

General Leaf Morphology

Its leaves are simple and lanceolate, measuring 20 to 140 mm long by 8 to 70 mm wide, with reddish petioles.

Leaf Apex and Surface

The leaf apex is acute or acuminate, and the leaf surface may be hairless or covered in hairs.

Leaf Margins

Leaf margins are either smooth or glandular serrated.

Petiole Dimensions

Petioles measure 1 to 3 mm by 3 to 35 mm.

Stipule Characteristics

Stipules are triangular, 0.8 to 3 mm by 0.4 to 3 mm, and sometimes become fused or curved as they age.

Flower Arrangement

Flowers grow solitary or in pairs, and are pendulous.

Flower Tube Characteristics

The flower tube is red and cylindrical, measuring around 5 to 16 mm long by 3 to 7 mm wide, and is sometimes hairy on the outside.

Stamen Color

The stamens are red.

Ovary Characteristics

The ovary is oblong, 5 to 12 mm long by 2 to 4 mm wide.

Sepal Characteristics

Sepals are 15 to 45 mm long, fused at the base, and colored red or rose.

Petal Characteristics

Petals are violet-fuchsia colored and obovate, measuring 10 to 25 mm long by 8 to 16 mm wide.

Filament Characteristics

Filaments are red-purple, 25 to 45 mm long by 20 to 38 mm wide.

Style Dimensions

The style is 2 to 6 mm long.

Fruit Characteristics

The fruit is an oblong berry measuring 10 to 27 mm long by 9 to 13 mm wide, and turns dark purple when ripe.

Seed Characteristics

Seeds are tan and oblong, 1.6 to 2.5 mm long by 1 to 1.6 mm wide.

Endemic Distribution

This species is endemic to southeast and southern Brazil, found in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and the northern part of Rio Grande do Sul.

Habitat Type

It grows in high altitude jungles of the Atlantic Forest, in regions with temperate temperatures and abundant rainfall.

Habitat Preferences

It prefers growing near watercourses, and in areas with full or partial shade.