The Subspecies Of Fuchsia Regia (Vand. Ex Vell.) Munz (Onagraceae) In Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil

The subspecies of Fuchsia regia (Vand. ex Veil.) Munz (Onagraceae) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The genus Fuchsia L. has 107 species distributed in 12 sections, with eight Brazilian species belonging exclusively to section Quelusia (Vand.) DC. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul, two subspecies of F. regia (Vand. ex Veil.) Munz occur: F. regia subsp. reitzii P. Berry and F. regia subsp. serrae P. Berry. This study is a detailed review on the morphological characteristics commonly used to separate them through a literature revision, herbarium study, and analysis of plants collected in the field. The degree of sepal conflation in subsp. serrae native to Rio Grande do Sul is extremely variable, thus not reliable as a diagnostic character. The most reliable distinguishing feature of this taxon is the persistence of the stipules. A key is presented for identification of subspecies, along with descriptions, ecological remarks and distribution data of the taxa in the State.