Fuchsia Compendium

Fuchsia Compendium - R

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

R.H.S. COLOUR CHART - consist of four books of colours identified by numbers hence RHS 123. These numbers refer to the colour of foliage or flowers of the plant. AFS 123 is the registration number of the cultivar. Mantilla was the first fuchsia registered.

RACEME - the kind of inflorescence as found on F. corymbiflora.

RAIN WATER - often quoted as being the best source of water for plants which is true if the collecting area is clean and that the water butt is cleaned out regularly. Potassium permanganate is useful for discouraging algae. Tap water is far better in most cases.

RECIPROCAL CROSSES - in hybridising this is when pollen is transferred from plant "A" to plant "B" and the reciprocal cross would be transferring pollen from plant "B" to plant "A". The advantage of a reciprocal cross is that quite often the pollen takes better in one direction than the other.

RECURVED - the term used for sepals that are curved back to a point half way between the horizontal plane and the ovary.

RED SPIDER MITE -not a spider but a small creature that is hardly visible to the naked eye. Prefers a hot dry atmosphere and lives on the underside of the leaf causing a characteristic mottling to the upper surface and a premature dropping of the leaves. In severe cases fine webbing can be seen.

REFLEXED - the term used when the sepals curve right back to the ovary.

REGISTRATION - of new cultivars is done through the American Fuchsia Society. The International Registrar is Ed Salome, 6979 Clark Road, Paradise, CA95969-2210. European registration are directed to Simmone Gijsels, Dr. Van Raestraat 14, 2660 Hoboken, Antwerp, Belgium.

RESPIRATION- is the natural process by which plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and expires oxygen during day light. The reverse process occurs during the hours of darkness. It is all part of photosynthesis.

REVERSION - a term used when there is a change in the appearance of a plant; i.e. when a green leafed shoot appears on a variegated variety.

RHS-abbreviation for Royal Horticultural Society. It has many benefits for garden clubs. If your society is not already a member why don’t you suggest that it becomes affiliated?

RODENTICIDES - to control rats and mice.

ROGUE - a Nurseryman that sells you a plant that has no resemblance to the description on the label? No, No, No. A rogue is a plant that does not perform to the standard of the stock plant. May be smaller inferior flowers or poor growth rate. Better discarded and not used for propagation. Hence the term roguing.

ROOT - the underground part of the plant which serves as an anchor and support for a plant. Feeds the plant by absorbing nutrients in solution from the surrounding soil. Some fuchsia species have roots that serve as storage organs.

ROOT ROT - caused by one of several fungi. Should not be a problem if plants are being grown in a well drained compost. Waterlogged conditions is the primary cause.

ROOT SCORCH - caused when a plant is in direct sunlight and the walls of the container are too thin to insulate from this source of direct heat. Spotted when the plant wilts but does not respond to watering, Remedy by putting plant in a shaded area and hope that it recovers.

ROOTING MEDIUM - any substance such as compost of peat, vermiculite, perlite or mixture of these into which cuttings can root.

ROSSETTE - blue, red or yellow we all like to win one.

RULES - A principle of conduct observed by members of a group. An authoritative direction for conduct or procedure specifically. Mostly we are only interested in the Show Rules.

RUST - a complex disease that goes through several stages to complete it’s life cycle. Hosts being Fuchsias, Abies and Willowherb. I believe the spores normally over winter on Abies but is not necessary host in this Country. The disease manifests it’s self as pale orange to brown pustules on the underside of the leaves eventually coming through onto the upper surface. This disease is not always as virulent some years as others and in a minor infection the leaves have a dark green pattern, edged by yellow. I have noticed that rust in the spring does not affect the plant in the same manner. Some plants are more prone to rust than others and having one in your collection could be a good indicator for a forthcoming problem. My indicator plant for rust is ‘Barbara’ and similarly F.boliviana for whitefly. Remedy by picking off and destroying the leaves and spraying with a suitable fungicide. Prevention is always better than cure so spray at intervals through the growing season. What might be a rust resistant variety in your garden is not necessarily in mine. IMHO-DJL