Gunneraceae FAMILY
Gunnera magellanica
Gunnera magellanica
Edibility
1/5
Medicinal
0/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Botanical Description
Gunnera magellanica is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a spreading, rhizomatous rootstock and forming a carpet of growth; the leaves are around 2 - 6cm wide, occasionally to 12cm, growing on stout petioles 5 - 22cm long and 3mm in diamete[ 1922 Title Gunneraceae Publication Flora Neotropica Monograph 109 Author Mora-Osejo L.E., Pabón-Mora N. & González F. Publisher The New York Botanical Garden Press; New York Year 2011 ISBN 978-0-89327-508-2 Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to form a ground cover, and also has potential for use in soil stabilization and restoration projects.
Habitat & Origin
Origintemperate
Native RangeWestern S. America - southwest Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and the Falkland Islands.
HabitatDamp grassy places[ 187 Title Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2. Publication Author Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Publisher Pan Books Year 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9 Description Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc. ]. Moist sheltered places; at elevations from sea-level to 1,000 metres[ 69 Title Flora of Tierra del Fuego. Publication Author Moore. D. M. Publisher Anthony Nelson. Year 1983 ISBN 0-904614-05-0 Description Standard work for this part of S. America. Excellent details of habitat and a few notes on plant uses. ]. Found at elevations up to 3,800 metres in the tropical parts of its range, it descends to sea level in the temperate climate of southern S. America[ 1922 Title Gunneraceae Publication Flora Neotropica Monograph 109 Author Mora-Osejo L.E., Pabón-Mora N. & González F. Publisher The New York Botanical Garden Press; New York Year 2011 ISBN 978-0-89327-508-2 Description ].