Gunnera

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Gunneraceae >

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Read about Gunnera in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Gunnera (J. Ernst Gunner, 1718-1773, was a Swedish bishop and botanist, and wrote a local flora). Haloragidaceae. Perennial herbs, some of them big- leaved and used for subtropical effects; others small and useful for bogs and rockeries. The family Haloragidaceae comprises above 100 widely scattered and heterogeneous species in 8 genera. In the northeastern states are the aquatic genera, Proserpinaca, Hippuris, Myriophyllum. These comprise small and mostly inconspicuous water- or bog- plants. In the Australian region are the endemic genera Loudonia and Meionectes; and there remain Serpicula, Gunnera, and Haloragis, with very wide and disjointed distributions. Gunnera has 25 or more known species in S. Afr., Abyssinia, Java, Tasmania, New Zeal., Hawaii and S. Amer. In general appearance the gunneras are wholly unlike our native haloragaceous plants. The lvs. are radical, ovate or orbicular, in certain species gigantic: fls. perfect or rarely imperfect monoecious or polygamous, small, in simple or branched spikes or panicles, often packed on a great cob-like spike; petals 2-3, or none; calyx none, or with 2-3 lobes; stamens 1 or 2 or 3; ovary 1-loculed, bearing 2 filiform styles: fr. a drupe: plant rhizomatous. Gunneras are striking herbs, and with protection the two first species may be grown even in some of our northern states. These two are amongst the noblest of lawn foliage plants. To produce satisfactory effects, rich moist ground is indispensable. The plants must never suffer for want of water. Exposure to sun is advisable, but they should be sheltered from severe winds, else the leaves will be damaged. Ample winter protection should be provided. A liberal covering of leaves or Utter, held in place by brush or branches, will generally keep them from harm. Apply the covering in December and remove early in spring. Propagate by division. Seeds are also employed, and they can usually be secured. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

Species

G. brephogea. Lind. & Andre. A large species: lvs. tall-petiolate, the limb peltate, concave, orbicuhir-reniform. rather shallowly 7-9-lqbed and the lobes again somewhat lobed or angled, the margin with many small acute inflexed teeth and black-purple: female fla. in a lax spike-like panicle, on a purplish scape. Colombia. I.H. 19:111.—O. minima, Hort.=G. magellanica (?).—G. perpensa, Linn. Lvs. long-petioled (12-18 in.), orbicular-reniform, cordate at base, 0-12 in. across, uniformly and closely crenate-toothed: scape surpassing the lvs., becoming 2-3 ft. high; fls. monoecious, the males in the upper part of the slender spikes. S. ASr. in moist places.^CH

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External links

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