The History of AFS as the International Registrar of Fuchsias
by
Elsie Sydnor, AFS Editor
AFS has been publishing descriptions of new fuchsias for most of its 75 years of existence. Harry Nagel gives us some history on the subject in an article in the October 1967 Bulletin.
“When the American Fuchsia Society was founded, one of its first activities was the formation of a committee to establish standards of nomenclature and to completely catalog all known fuchsia varieties not only in the United States but also in all foreign countries. The British Fuchsia Society, then also in its formative state, gave invaluable assistance in the cataloging of European varieties.
“Prior to 1947, this was more of a world-wide search for what had been developed in the past, A new program was introduced for the registration of all new varieties as they were developed by the growing group of new hybridizers who were beginning to take an active interest in bringing out many new varieties. Beginning in 1948 the AFS provided an official registration service by which hybridizers could register their new introductions with the assurance that there would be no duplication of names and that the varieties would be fully cataloged and described for future reference of all concerned. This service created a central clearing house for all hybridizers, growers and the general public.”
In announcing the new appointment of AFS as International Registrar, Mr. Nagel wrote: “The American Fuchsia Society has been highly honored by its appointment as the International Registration Authority for Fuchsias by the International Society for Horticultural Science. By this appointment the AFS becomes the official registrar of all new fuchsia introductions throughout the world. This becomes an international expansion of the registration service program which the AFS established in 1947…and makes the AFS responsible for all registration for nomenclature internationally.”
Two hundred seventy-nine new fuchsias are presented in this edition of the Bulletin. In the first edition of the International Registration in March 1968, there were 65 introductions from fourteen hybridizers, all American. A few of the fuchsias that are still grown are ‘Al Stetler,’ ‘Joe Kusber,’ ‘Korean Maid,’ ‘Fuchsia Fan,’ ‘Icicle,’ ‘Sebastopol,’ ‘The Spoiler’ and ‘Novella.’ Descriptions were much simpler then. Case in point: “FUCHSIA FAN—No. 759 (Pennisi 1968) trailer. Corolla deep fuchsia variegated in red. Sepals red on both sides. Short tube. Large blooms. Small leaves.”
Mr. R. D. Rodenberger of Oakland was the first Registration Chairman. In 1971, Elmer Wieler of South San Francisco took the position. In mid-1974 Mr. Wieler resigned and George Wood of Piedmont took the job. In June 1979 the duties of Registrar was given to Dee Logan, who held the post until the end of 1998. Her last edition of introductions numbered 208, with much longer descriptions that included measurements and most with the color formula numbers. Ed Salome was her successor and AFS President asked Simonne Gijsels of Belgium to be the Assistant Registrar in charge of processing all the European introductions.
It is an honor for AFS to be International Registrar, but it is a great deal of work, also. We are fortunate to have dedicated people who appreciate the importance of the task.
‘Göttingen Gänseliesel’ Gänseliesel is a monument in the town of Göttingen, where Karl Strümper lives and is in memory of a girl who tended geese of the citizens many years ago. ‘Liesel’ is the short form of the name Elizabeth.
The Amstetten area is well known for its apple plantations and cider. Many related events are held each year with the election