Gunnera tinctoria

Gunnera tinctoria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Order:Gunnerales
Family:Gunneraceae
Genus:Gunnera
Species: G. tinctoria
Binomial name
Gunnera tinctoria
(Molina) Mirbel.

Gunnera tinctoria, known as giant rhubarb[1] or Chilean rhubarb, is a flowering plant species native to southern Chile and neighbouring zones in Argentina. It is unrelated to rhubarb, as the two plants belong into different orders, but looks similar from a distance and has similar culinary uses. It is a large-leaved perennial plant that grows to more than two metres tall. It has been introduced to many parts of the world as an ornamental plant and in some countries (for instance New Zealand, Great Britain and Ireland) it has spread from gardens and is becoming a weed problem. It is known under the synonyms: Gunnera chilensis Lam. and Gunnera scabra Ruiz & Pav.

Description

Gunnera tinctoria is a giant, clump-forming herbaceous perennial. The leaves can grow up to 2.5m across, cordate and palmate with up to 9-lobed margins.[2] It has erect spikes of cone-shaped inflorescences (to 1m) from spring to early summer, with small flowers. The fruit is orange. The number of seeds is estimated from 80,000 per seedhead to 250,000 per plant.

Not closely related to the garden rhubarb - which it resembles.[2]

Gunnera tinctoria flowering on the coast of Chiloé Island, Chile

Habitat

Stream and roadsides.[2]

As an invasive species

In parts of New Zealand the Chilean rhubarb has become a recognised pest plant. For instance in Taranaki, on the west coast of the North Island it was spread to riverbeds, coastal cliffs and forest margins.[3] G. tinctoria is on the National Pest Plant Accord. Under Section 52 and 53 of the Biosecurity Act, it is an offence to knowingly propagate, distribute, spread, sell, offer for sale.[4] In Great Britain it has become well-established and sometimes problematic in western districts and appears to be spreading.[5] In the west of Ireland, G. tinctoria is a major invasive species,[6] in particular on Achill Island and on Corraun Peninsula, County Mayo. Its large leaves create dense shade, preventing other species from germinating or growing.

Chilean rhubarb on sale at a street in Puerto Varas.
Gunnera tinctoria - MHNT

Similar species

A similar species is Gunnera manicata (Brazilian giant rhubarb). This species may also be invasive.

Nalcas at Cuesta Queulat in Queulat National Park, Chile

Notes

The blue-green alga Nostoc is a symbiont in Gunnera.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. 1 2 3 Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora Cork University Press ISBN 978-185918-4783
  3. ↑ Giant problems for Taranaki; especially the pictures of Gunnera tinctoria on seacliffs (p. 17)
  4. ↑ Department of Conservation 2005, p. 3
  5. ↑ Anon. "Giant Rhubarb, Gunnera tinctoria". NNSS species information. GB Non-native species secretariat. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  6. 1 2 Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F and McCarthy, T.K. (eds) 2007. New Survey of Clare Island 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 978-904890-21-7

Literature

  • Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
  • Department of Conservation (NZ) - Plant me instead. Wellington (New Zealand) 2005. ISBN 0-478-14007-X
  • Department of Conservation - leaflet: "Chilean Rhubarb; shading out our natives", Wanganui. March 2006.
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