94,129
edits
Changes
From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to searchno edit summary
|familia=Gunneraceae
|familia=Gunneraceae
|genus=Gunnera
|genus=Gunnera
|taxo_author=L.
|habit=herbaceous
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Upload.png
|image=Gunnera tinctoria 2.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
|image_caption=''Gunnera tinctoria''
}}
}}
'''''Gunnera''''' is a genus of [[herbaceous]] [[flowering plant]]s, some of them gigantic. The genus is the only member of the family Gunneraceae.
The 40-50 species vary enormously in [[leaf]] size. ''[[Gunnera manicata]]'', native to the Serra do Mar mountains of southeastern [[Brazil]], is perhaps the largest species, with leaves typically 1.5-2 m (5-6 ft) wide, but exceptionally long, up to 3.4 m (11 ft), borne on thick, succulent leaf stalks ([[Petiole (botany)|petioles]]) up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long. It germinates best in very moist, but not wet, conditions and temperatures of 22 to 29 °C.
Only slightly smaller is ''G. masafuerae'' of the [[Juan Fernández Islands|Juan Fernandez Islands]] off the [[Chile]]an coast. They can have leaves up to 2.9 m (9 ft 5 inches) in width on stout leaf stalks 1.5 m (5 ft) long and 11 cm (4.5 in) thick according to Skottsberg. On nearby [[Alejandro_Selkirk_Island|Isla Más Afuera]], ''G. peltata'' frequently has an upright trunk to 5.5 m (18 ft) in height by 25–30 cm (10–12 in) thick, bearing leaves up to 2 m (6 ft 4 inches) wide. ''G. magnifica'' of the [[Colombia]]n [[Andes]] bears the largest leaf buds of any plant; up to 60 cm (2 ft) long and 40 cm (16 inches) thick. The [[Succulent plant|succulent]] leaf stalks are up to 2.7 m (8 ft 10 inches) long. The massive [[inflorescence]] of small, reddish [[flower]]s is up to 2.3 m (7 ft 6 inches) long and weighs about 13 kg. Other giant ''Gunnera'' species are found throughout the [[Neotropics]] and [[Hawaii]].
Several small species are found in [[New Zealand]], notably ''G. albocarpa'', with leaves only 1–2 cm long, and also in South America, with ''G. magellanica'' having leaves 5–9 cm wide on stalks 8–15 cm long.
Commonly known as "giant [[rhubarb]]".
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
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.
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.
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.
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.
}}
}}
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
==Species==
==Species==
Selected species:
*''[[Gunnera albocarpa]]''
*''[[Gunnera arenaria]]''
*''[[Gunnera densiflora]]''
*''[[Gunnera dentata]]''
*''[[Gunnera flavida]]''
*''[[Gunnera hamiltonii]]''
*''[[Gunnera kauaiensis]]''
*''[[Gunnera magellanica]]''
*''[[Gunnera magnifica]]''
*''[[Gunnera manicata]]''
*''[[Gunnera masafuerae]]''
*''[[Gunnera monoica]]''
*''[[Gunnera perpensa]]''
*''[[Gunnera petaloïdea]]''
*''[[Gunnera prorepens]]''
*''[[Gunnera tinctoria]]''
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.{{SCH}}
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.{{SCH}}
