Fuchsia boliviana Carrière

Densely hairy or tomentose, evergreen shrub to 3 m high, with long thin stems bearing lvs towards apex; shoots green. Lvs opposite; petiole to 8 cm long, reddish pink, rather stout. Lamina to c. 20–(25) × 9–(10) cm, often smaller below infl., elliptic, with appressed hairs, remotely denticulate with teeth hidden amongst marginal hairs; base cuneate to rounded; apex acute or short-acuminate. Infl. terminal, pendulous, corymbose, becoming racemose at fruiting. Fls subtended by leafy bracts, these smaller towards the apex. Pedicels 5–20 mm long, slender. Floral tube 5–6 cm long, gradually widening upwards, pink or crimson, hairy inside and outside. Sepals 1.5–2.2 cm × c. 4 mm, lanceolate, pink or crimson, acuminate, reflexing at anthesis, with scattered hairs outside. Petals 1.2–1.5 cm long, elliptic-oblong, crimson, imbricate. Stamens c. 10 mm long, subequal, crimson. Style 1–1.5 cm long, exserted part glabrous, otherwise densely hairy; stigma 4-lobed. Fr. c. 2 cm long, oblong, shining black, puberulent.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Dec.