Gunnera perpensa
Scientific name
This is an erect and robust perennial herb that grows up to 1 m tall. It always grows near water and the roots are up to 300 mm thick, creeping in black, muddy soil. The inside tissues are yellow-brown. All the leaves arise from a central tuft near the top of the apex, just above the soil level. They are large, dark bluish green, kidney-shaped and covered with hairs on both surfaces, especially along the veins in young leaves. The margin of the leaves is irregularly toothed. The veins are very noticeable on the lower surface of the leaf, radiating from the point where the petiole joins the leaf, referred to as palmate radiation. The petioles vary in length from 150 to 750 mm. It has numerous small pink redish brown flowers along a slender spike, which is taller than the leaves. Each spike has female flowers at the base, bisexual flowers in the middle, and male flowers at the top.Conservation status: Least Concern
This species was selected because it has various important characteristics.
It provides medicinal value
Suitable for wet sites
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