Fuchsia arborescens

Sims

Lilac fuschia

Onagraceae Edible: Fruit 527 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Fuchsia arborescens, commonly known as the tree fuchsia, is a tree of the genus Fuchsia native to Central America. It belongs to the section Schufia and is most closely related to Fuchsia paniculata.

Description

An erect shrub or small tree. The crown is dense and round. It grows 2-8 m tall. The trunk is short and thick.

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Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The fruit is reportedly edible, with a mildly sweet flavour. The purple, subglobose fruit is 8 - 12mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten.

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Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist mixed forest. It grows between 1,300-2,900 m above sea level. It is best in a moist, well-drained soil.

Where It Grows

Central America, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, North America,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds. They can also be grown by cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe though stored seed can also be used. Surface sow the seed in a semi-shaded position in a seed tray, gently pressing the seed into the compost, and do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination should take place in less than 6 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on until large enough to plant out. Inter-nodal cuttings of greenwood, 5 - 8cm long in a frame. Quick and easy, a high percentage take. Inter-nodal cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame. Very quick and easy, treat as greenwood cuttings above. Cuttings usually succeed at any time during the growing season.

Production

It flowers all year round.

Synonyms

Fuchsia amoena DC.Fuchsia arborea Sesse & Moc.Fuchsia arborescens var. arborescens Fuchsia arborescens var. typica MunzFuchsia syringiflora Carriere

Also Known As

Aretillo, Pipilito

References (6)

Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns.info/tropical/
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 376
Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 218
Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
Segura, S., et al, 2018, The edible fruit species in Mexico. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2018) 65:1767–1793

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