Fuchsia thymifolia is a species of Fuchsia found in Mexico to North Guatemala.[1]

Fuchsia thymifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Fuchsia
Species:
F. thymifolia
Binomial name
Fuchsia thymifolia
Kunth, 1823
Synonyms
  • Brebissonia thymifolia (Kunth) Steud. 1840
  • Encliandra thymifolia (Kunth) Lilja 1841
  • Lyciopsis thymifolia (Kunth) Spach 1835

Description

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It is a shrub that reaches a size of 1 to 1.5 m in height. The leaves are ovate, 1-5 cm long with an entire edge. The flowers are pinkish white and the fruits are a purple grape-shaped berry.

Chromosome number is 2n = 22.

Distribution

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Plants are found in Sinaloa and Durango states of Mexico south towards Chiapas and into northern Guatemala. It inhabits a temperate climate in grassland and forest with oak, pine and Abies mixed pine-oak forests at elevations of 1800 to 3900 meters. [2][3]

Subspecies

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There are two recognized subspecies:[1][2]

Image Name Description Distribution
  Fuchsia thymifolia subsp. minimiflora Plant grows 1-3 meters tall. Leaves are elliptic and narrowly ovate with a 8–24 mm long petiole. Flower tube is 2.6-4 mm long Found in Mexico (Chiapas) and Guatemala (Antigua Guatemala) in forests of Pinus, Quercus, and Arbutus at elevations of 2100 to 2500 meters.
  Fuchsia thymifolia subsp. thymiflora Plant grows 0.5-2.2 meters tall. Leaves are elliptic and ovate with a 4–17 mm long petiole. Flower tube is 3.5-6.5 mm long Found in Mexico (Sinaloa, Durango, Jalisco, Vera Cruz, Hidalgo and Oaxaca) in Pinus, Quercus, and Abies forest at elevations of 2000 to 3200 meters.

Medicinal Use

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In Mexico its medicinal use includes the treatment of thrush, sores in the mouth (thrush) and scurvy, and in the State of Hidalgo it is used for diarrhea. As a remedy, it is advisable to grind or chew the fruit and the leaf to apply it locally, or take the decoction of the aerial part. Another use that is given is in cases of cough.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fuchsia thymifolia Kunth". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  2. ^ a b "Onagraceae". Species Page/ Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  3. ^ a b "::: BIBLIOTECA :::". medicinatradicionalmexicana.unam.mx. 2013-06-10. Archived from the original on 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
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