Fuchsia procumbens

Fuchsia procumbens is a prostrate shrub that is endemic to coastal areas of the North Island of New Zealand. Common names include creeping fuchsia, climbing fuchsia or trailing fuchsia.^[4]

Fuchsia procumbens Temporal range: 18 –0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Early Miocene – Recent[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Onagraceae
Genus:	Fuchsia
Species:	F. procumbens
Binomial name
Fuchsia procumbens R.Cunn.
It is endemic to the North island of New Zealand[2]
Synonyms[3]
Fuchsia kirkii Hook. f. Fuchsia prostrata Baill.

Description

Fuchsia procumbens R.Cunn. leaf detail

Fuchsia procumbens R.Cunn. flower bud

Vegetative characteristics

Its stems are slender, creeping, and weakly woody. They can climb heights of close to 1 m on small shrubs.^[5] The circular, 7–12 mm big leaves, which are attached singly to the stem, have dentate leaf margins, as well as trichomes on the surface.^[6]

Generative characteristics

The erect, radially symmetrical flowers with a yellow floral tube do not have any petals. Instead, it has four sepals, which display orange and green coloration.^[6][5] This contrasts with the blue pollen, which is a distinctive character of the Pacific Fuchsia clade.^[5] The pollen is produced in eight stamens.^[6]

Cytology

The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 22.^[7]

Reproduction

Fuchsia procumbens is trioecious (i.e. subdioecious). Hermaphrodite, male, and female plants occur. Both male and female plants have two different types, which differ in the length of the style.^[8] Unisexual populations are thought to be able to persevere due to the vegetative reproduction by rooting along the creeping stems.^[5]

• 
  Hermaphrodite flowers have big globose stigmas about equal in size and position to the anthers^[8]
• 
  Male flowers have fully developed anthers but the stigma is thin and underdeveloped^[8]
• 
  Detail of Fuchsia procumbens R.Cunn. stamina of male plant with remarkable blue pollen
• 
  Mature fruit

Taxonomy

It was published by Richard Cunningham in 1839.^[2] In the year 1995, Fuchsia procumbens was placed in the monotypic section Fuchsia sect. Procumbentes due to significant differences from the remaining Pacific Fuchsia clade.^[5]

Synonym status of Fuchsia kirkii

The species Fuchsia kirkii was described by Joseph Hooker in 1871 based on the male form of Fuchsia procumbens. Thereafter he recognized sexual dimorphism as the source of the perceived differences between the species.^[5]

Etymology

The specific epithet procumbens refers to the sprawling growth habit of the plant.^[4]

Phylogeny

It belongs to a South Pacific lineage that diverged from all other Fuchsia species around 30 million years ago. Fuchsia procumbens diverged from the other New Zealand (and Tahitian) species around 18 million years ago.^[1] The following relationships were reported:^[1]

	Section Skinnera Fuchsia excorticata Fuchsia × colensoi Fuchsia cyrtandroides Section Procumbentes Fuchsia procumbens

Ecology

Pollination

Little is known about seed dispersal and pollination in Fuchsia procumbens. However, there have been speculations on pollination and seed dispersal through lizards,^[9] as well as reports on seed dispersal through invertebrates.^[10][4]

Habitat

Small populations occur in coastal areas of New Zealand's northern island. It grows in sand in proximity to the tide lines.^[11]

Conservation

It has been categorized as "At risk – naturally uncommon" by the Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand list of 2009.^[12]

Uses

Fruit

The small, red, crunchy fruit is edible, although rarely eaten. It has been described as slimy and bland.^[13]

Horticulture

It is commonly cultivated in gardens.^[5]