Lost Fuchsia Found

Paul Marsenac, a plant hunter from Bordeaux, recently rediscovered a fuchsia in Peru thought to have gone extinct. The specimen of Fuchsia summa was brought to the Citrus House, a large Victorian greenhouse at Margam Park in Wales, where scientists from Fuchsia Research International have propagated the rare fuchsia for distribution to botanical gardens around the world.

Mr. Marsenac also collected a fuchsia on his Peruvian expedition that experts have yet to identify - possibly a new species. These discoveries were presented at the Euro-Fuchsia Conference held at Margam Park this year. The collection of fuchsias at the Citrus House is now the largest in the world, thanks to the donation of the personal collection of Jean Leleu of Chartres, France. This collection, accumulated over twenty years, will be on public display for the first time during this year's conference.

Links:

• Welsh centre of excellence saves “extinct” fuchsia from icWales


• Fuchsia summa type specimen from the Missouri Botanical Garden Herbarium


• Fuchsia Research International


• Citrus House Fuchsia Collection

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 11:15 AM on June 21, 2004