Gunnera insignis
Part of the widely ranged family gunnera
Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Gunnerales
Family: Gunneraceae
Genus: Gunnera
Species: G. insignis
Uses: In the U.S., it is frequently used as an ornament in gardens. It also has a endosymbiotic relationship with the nitrogen-fixing cynobacteria, nostoc. The bacteria enters the plant through a mucus-secreting gland at nodes in the stem of the gunnera in the sapling stage of its life cycle. It has no known medicinal usage.
Threats: The gunnera insignis is not threatened or endangered.
Characteristics:
The gunnera insignis is a tropical shrub, growing from 2.5-3 meters (8-10 feet with a thick stem. It has large, heart-shaped leaves that have 1-2 meter (3-7 feet) diameters and red scales at the base of the leaves. They have channels on the top of their leaves to help shed water and prevent fungus and mold growth. The flowerhead is triangular and 1 meter (3 feet) tall, sprouting small flowers with small flowers. The bottom of the plant is female, and the top is male, and its fruits contain one seed per fruit. It grows naturally at high elevations of 1,000-2,600 meters (3,280-8,530 feet) in wet subtropical mountains, in full or partial sunlight.