Gunnera tinctoria
| Gunnera tinctoria | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 7' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Meadows | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Gunnera tinctoria (common name: gunnera)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a sandy mix in a cold frame. The seed can also be sown in a shady position in a greenhouse in the spring. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 15°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division as new growth commences in the spring. The clumps can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.
Cultivation: Requires a damp humus rich soil in a sunny position or semi-shade, sheltered from strong winds. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[1].
The rootstock is rather tender, surviving to -10°c and requiring some protection away from the milder parts of Britain. This can be achieved by piling either bracken or the plants dying leaves around the crown[2].
The top part of the inflorescence is male, the bottom is female and the middle is hermaphrodite.
A very ornamental plant with huge leaves, it forms a slowly spreading dense clump[2].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[1].
Range: S. America - Chile.
Habitat: Moist soils by lakes and rivers of the Central Provinces[3].
Edibility: Young leaf stalks - peeled and cooked as a vegetable or eaten raw[4][5][6]. Acid and refreshing[3].
Medicinal: The whole plant is astringent[3].
Usage: A black dye is obtained from the root[3].
The root contains 9% tannin[7][3].
Leaves are used as a roof covering[3].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: G. chilensis. G. scabra.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Reiche, Karl. Flora de Chile.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.