Chilean rhubarb, gunnère du Chili [For John Ernest Gunner, 1718–1773, Norwegian bishop and botanist]

Rhizomes ± horizontal; scales 10–20 cm, laciniate. Leaves: petiole attached to rhizome; blade ± orbiculate [reniform]. Spikes dense, stout, ± conic. Flowers sessile or pedicel as long as ovary; sepals green; stigmas linear, slender. Drupes ovate to oblong. x = 12, 17.

Species 35–50 (1 in the flora): introduced, North America; Mexico, Central America, South America; introduced also in w Europe, Pacific Islands.

In addition to Gunnera tinctoria, the smaller South American species G. manicata Linden ex Delchevalerie is cultivated along the Pacific Coast and has been noted as persisting in abandoned gardens in the Fraser River delta region, British Columbia; there is no evidence of self-sown populations (S. F. Lomer, pers. comm.).

Lower Taxon

• Gunnera tinctoria (Molina) Mirbel