Gunnera
(named in honour of J. E. Gunner, 1718-1773, a Swedish bishop and botanist). ORD. Halorageae. A genus containing about eleven species of hardy herbaceous perennials, scattered over the Australian, Malayan, New Zealand, Pacific, and South American Islands; also found in South Africa, and in the Andes as far north as the Gulf of Mexico. Flowers greenish, minute, in dense spikes or branched panicles. Leaves all radical, large, petiolate, ovate or cordate-rotundate, simple or lobed, crenate, coriaceous-carnose, often wrinkled. Some of the species form noble plants for sub-tropical gardening, and grow vigorously in a damp, sunny situation, if sheltered from winds. A slight protection, such as a covering of dry leaves, is advisable in severe weather. Propagated by division.
G. manicata (sheathed).* l. 12ft. to 20ft. in circum ference, borne upon stout footstalks from 4ft. to 6ft. high. 1867. A majestic plant, from the cold and freezing regions, known in Southern Brazil under the name of Campos des Lages. (I. H. 1824, 128.) G. perpensa (well-considered). fl. green. August l. reniform, toothed, shorter than the scape in fruit, h. 1 1/2ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1688. (B. M. 2376.) G. scabra(rough).* fl. reddish, small, very numerous, disposed on a large club-shaped spike. l. broad, 4ft. to 5ft. in diameter, borne upon stout prickly petioles 3ft. to 6ft. in length. h. 4ft. Chili, 1849. A fine plant for large lawns or parks.(F. d. S. 1879.)