Hi Ian

Any chance of a photograph, I can't think of an apetalous fuchsia that is hardy.

Tight....

Hi Tight,
I'm unable to post a pic, but can send one to your 'jpns' e-mail address, if that is o.k with you.
IanS.

Hi Ian

There is no problem either contacting me or posting photographs to JPNS - it is our business address.

Tight

Hi All

This is the plant that Ian would like help to idendify.

Any suggestions

Tight....

Hi All

A couple more photographs that may help in identifying this cultivar.

The Flower

The bud (with raindrop)

Tight....

Thanks Tight. I really must get to grip with posting pictures, but by the time I get any time to myself it's 11.30 pm.
Love the raindrop. We have plenty of those in Cornwall.
IanS.

I'm wondering if it could be f.regia ssp. which is all red, hardy and has a minute corolla high up inside the sepals! - Kath:)

Hi Kath

Did you have any particular f.regia ssp in mind?

I have searched for this everywhere and cannot find it, I appreciate what you are saying about f.regia but the red pistil seems to negate this.

It is a long time since I grew f.regia but from what I recall it was a smaller flower and a darker leaf colour.

Tight....

To try to answer your question Tight, as you most probably know

f.regia =
Tube = red
Sepals = red
Coralla visible = dark red

f.regia subsp. reitzii 4512 =
Tube = red
Sepals = red
Corolla visible = purple

f.regia subsp. reitzii =
Tube = red
Sepals = red
Corolla visible = purple

f.regia (subspecies)=
Tube = red
Sepals = red
Corolla very minute = red
That's why I suggested it might be this one, as the pics. I have from the Dutch book '1000 Fuchsias to Look At' the pistil is also red and the leaves a lighter green than the normal f.regia which we grow. Of course I could be wrong :)
Kath

Hi Kath

Not a problem, I have sought the help of some good friends of mine who you may also know, Jack and Joan Lamb, as they hold the National Fuchsia Species collection if anyone should know they should, but then again...

Tight....

Hi Kath,

I got a reply from Jack, in his words,

"It looks to me like a strag seedling from magellanica that appeared in East Anglia a few years ago. I thought it had been binned."

Now the 'strag' could be a typo of 'stray' but then again I am not a perfect typist either.

Seems that we are no nearer establishing this plant .... unless anyone else has any ideas.

Tight....

I'm still trying to think where the plant may have come from. I've always collected cutting. A pinch here, a tip there, but I have a feeling that it may have come with 6 bush and 6 trailers I bought from one of the bigger suppliers about 3 or 4 years ago.
I now have two plants, which brighten up a dull corner, and will be in flower until Christmas. I have noticed that they do not produce seed pods so may be sterile. I'll double check tomorrow.
IanS

I've taken a closer look at the two plants and think that Jack Lamb may be right and that is is a stray. There is no sign of pollonation and many of the flowers have deformed pistils, some have none at all. It could well be a reject from a grower that some how has ended up with me.
It would never win Best in Show, but I like it because it works hard.
Thanks for all your input and if you have ay other ideas, I would be very pleased to hear them.
IanS