Fuchsia

Fuchsia

Fuchsia, Fuchsia species, are shrubs or small trees most of which come from Central and South America with a few from the New Zealand area. The flowers hang downwards and are made up of four coloured sepals and four petals which are often of a contrasting colour. Eight stamens and the style with its four-lobed stigma hang below the petals. The fruits are small berries which are edible in some species. There are about 100 species of Fuchsia named in honour of the German botanist Fuchs. [CH] {FW}