CHILCO (Fuchsia magellánica)
January 12th, 2009 Posted in floraThe Chilco is a decorative, perennial plant with a likeness to Asian art, though it originally stems from Chile.
It goes by many names including aljaba, chilca, chilcón, fucsia, jazmín del papa, palo blanco, pendientes de la reina or tilca. Chilco tends to be the most popular title.
A lover of shade and watery landscapes, it grows near lakes, marshes and rivers, thriving in thick forests. It especially enjoys having its roots in permanent water sources. It finds its home in lower elevations, never growing above timberline. Despite its dislike for full sun, the bushy plant can reach heights of over eight feet and can tolerate more sun if it is growing on a steep slope.
The flower has four fragile, triangular flowers that surround a bulbous purple node. It dangles like a lantern from the thin branches that are accessorised with oval, thin, soft leaves. When the time is right, the petals fall to reveal an olive shaped seed that has a 30 – 60 percent chance of germinating into another plant.
Although the Chilco is particular about where it grows and needs constant water, the bush is hardy. It is able to handle temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and being buried for months under snow.
In addition to being a fun, decorative plant for the forest, Chilco is also edible and has medicinal purposes. The oil processed from the seeds is one of the main purposes, due to its high content of gamma linolenic acid (GLA).
