The Systematics of the Apetalous Fuchsias of South America, Fuchsia Sect. Hemsleyella (Onagraceae)

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Abstract
A systematic revision of Fuchsia sect. Hemsleyella, a distinctive group of apetalous species restricted to the tropical Andes, is presented. Fourteen species are recognized, including three new species: Fuchsia apetala, F. cestroides, F. chloroloba, F. garleppiana, F. huanucoensis sp. nov., F. inflata, F. insignis, F. juntasensis, F. membranacea, F. nana sp. nov., F. pilaloensis sp. nov., F. salicifolia, F. tillettiana and F. tunariensis. Members of this group are protogynous and are hummingbird pollinated; they are generally rare and present little opportunity for sympatry or interspecific hybridization. The first reported chromosome counts for the section indicate that seven species are diploid and two are tetraploid; two possible hybrids were also tetraploid. Pollen grains in the section are large, with the longest axis usually over 100 .mu.m long, and are basically 2-aperturate, although 3-aperturate grains are present in some species; there is no clear correlation between polyploidy and 3-aperturate pollen grains in this section. A series of specialization trends linked mostly to increasing seasonality is evident in the section: from species with leaves that are opposite-ternate, persistent and elliptic-ovate to ones with alternate, deciduous, cordate and long-petioled leaves; from terrestrial to epiphytic or rock-inhabiting shrubs; from nontuberous to tuberous plants; and from short- or medium-length floral tubes to floral tubes over 10 cm long. In its assemblage of characters, sect. Hemsleyella is most similar to sect. Ellobium, from Mexico and Central America.

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