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Species
Gunnera manicata Linden ex Andr
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Cylindrotrichum dematiaceous anamorph of Cylindrotrichum oligospermum is saprobic on dead stem of Gunnera manicata
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hyphodermella corrugata is saprobic on dead stem of Gunnera manicata
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Typhula erythropus is saprobic on dead, decayed stem of Gunnera manicata
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
sclerotial fruitbody of Typhula phacorrhiza is saprobic on damp, dead, decayed leaf of litter of Gunnera manicata
Other: unusual host/prey
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 2
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1
Gunnera manicata, or giant rhubarb, a native to South America from Colombia to Brazil,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the Gunneraceae family.
It is a large, clump-forming herbaceous perennial growing to 2.5 m (8 ft) tall by 4 m (13 ft) or more. The leaves of Gunnera grow to an impressive size. Leaves with diameters well in excess of 4 ft (122 cm) are commonplace, with a spread of 10 ft (3 m) by 10 ft (3 m) on a mature plant. The underside of the leaf and the whole stalk have spikes on them. In early summer it bears tiny red-green flowers in conical branched panicles, followed by small, spherical fruit. However, it is primarily cultivated for its massive leaves.[1]
This plant grows best in damp conditions e.g. by the side of garden ponds, but dislikes winter cold and wet.
It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]
Despite the common name, this plant is not closely related to the rhubarb. However, according to the San Francisco Botanical Gardens 'Collection' page it is edible when young.Peel the leaf stems, slice and enjoy raw in salads.
This plant is also commonly found on the Isle of Arran in Scotland, where it is picked and used as umbrellas by locals traditionally on the night after the highland games[citation needed].
References[edit]
- ^ a b RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
- ^ "Gunnera manicata AGM". RHS Plant Finder. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
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Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gunnera_manicata&oldid=644998308 |