Fuchsia

A deciduous shrub of the Onagraceae family (APG classification: Onagraceae). Also called Hokusha. Many species are distributed in tropical America, South America, New Zealand, etc., but this horticultural plant was developed using several of these species as parents. It is usually cultivated in greenhouses and potted for ornamental purposes. The leaves are opposite, egg-lanceolate, with sawtooth edges. The beautiful flowers are 3-6 cm in diameter and hang down on long, slender stalks from the axils at the end of the branches. The lower part of the calyx is tubular, the upper part is red and divided into four pieces, and there are four petals that are purple-red. There are also calyxes with white or pink, and petals with purple, red, pink, or white. There are eight stamens that protrude long along with the pistil. The flowering season is usually from March to November, mainly from April to June. There are also double-flowered varieties.

It is potted in clayey loam mixed with leaf mould and river sand, and the cores are picked off at appropriate times. It is sensitive to high temperatures and dryness, so it should be kept in a cool place in summer. It is propagated by cuttings in a greenhouse from autumn to early spring.

[Kiyohisa Matsuoka August 20, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

アカバナ科（APG分類：アカバナ科）の落葉低木。ホクシャともいう。熱帯アメリカ、南アメリカ、ニュージーランドなどに多くの種が分布するが、そのうちの数種を親として改良された園芸植物。普通は温室内で栽培し、鉢植えにして観賞される。葉は対生し、卵状披針(ひしん)形で縁(へり)に鋸歯(きょし)がある。花は径3～6センチメートルで美しく、枝先の葉腋(ようえき)に細長い柄を出して垂下する。萼(がく)の下部は筒状、上部は4片に分かれて赤色、花弁は4枚で紫紅色である。ほかに、萼が白色や桃色のもの、花弁が紫、紅、桃、白色のものなどがある。雄しべは8本で雌しべとともに長く突き出ている。花期は普通は4～6月を中心に3～11月。八重咲き品種もある。

　粘質壌土に腐葉と川砂を混ぜた土で鉢植えにし、適時、芯(しん)を摘んで育てる。高温と乾燥に弱く、夏は涼しい場所に置く。繁殖は挿芽により、秋から春先に温室内で行う。

［松岡清久　2020年8月20日］

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