Gunnera macrophylla Blume

Perennial, stoloniferous, pilose herb. Stem very short, c. 1-2 cm ø, pilose; rhizome sublignose, elongated, dark. Stolons often numerous, ± terete, the internodes very long, up to c. 40 cm, c. 3 mm ø, with 2 opposite, caducous, small bud-scales, soon producing a new flowering plant at each node. Leaves reniform to cordate, angular, rarely irregularly (2-)3-lobed, acutely irregularly sphacelate-dentate, bullate, venation strongly prominent, reticulate beneath, 2½-70 by 2½-70 cm; petiole up to 70 cm, 3-10 mm ø, ± terete, widely channelled above, costate, ± sheath-like at base, shortly decurrent, each of the lower equitant petiole-bases provided with 3 warts, 1 central highest and 2 lateral lower, below which an adventitious root emerges. Panicles l(-3) sub-terminal, shortly peduncled or sessile, often hidden under the leaves, in fruit accrescent to 25-60 cm; lateral spikes very numerous, each in the axil of a bract ½-1½ by ¼-1 cm, the lower ones 2½-9 cm, with ♀ flowers, the upper ones with ♂ or intermixed with ☿ flowers. ♂ Flowers: sepals triangular to broadly triangular, with acuminate or cuspidate, sphacelate apex, erect, 0.6-1.2 by c. 1 mm, glabrous; petals spathulate, mucronate, glabrous or pilose outside, glabrous inside, ± densely pilose on the margin, caducous before anthesis; filaments up to c. 2 mm, c. 0.3 mm ø, erecto-patent, stiffish; anthers ± elliptic, obtuse or shortly mucronate, 1½-2 by 1¼-1½ mm. ♀ Flowers: sepals as in ♂; petals 0; stigmas sessile, subulate, up to 2 mm long. Drupe ± globose, glabrous, juicy, c. 2 mm; stone flattened globular, c. 1 mm ø.

In the mountains from (750-)1250-3000 m. Wet or damp places, along brooks, river banks, near waterfalls, wells and seepage, mostly on open or lightly shaded places in disturbed habitats, pioneering on bare lands, along paths and in light places in secondary forests, often gregarious.

Can be grown by seedlings.