Gunnera

Gunnera is a genus of widely distributed herbs belonging to the order Gunnerales. These plants are often large herbs found in humid environments, with some species featuring orbicular basal leaves and spikes of small flowers. Members of the Gunnera genus are rhizomatous or stemless herbs that grow in various regions, including around the South Pacific, Antarctic islands, Hawaii, South and Central America, Africa, and Madagascar.12

A notable characteristic of Gunnera plants is their symbiotic relationship with a nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae, Nostoc, which resides in both their stems and roots. The leaf blades can vary significantly in size, from a few millimeters to over 3 meters (10 feet) across, and possess prominent veins on their lower surfaces. The inflorescence is often large and branched, though the individual flowers are small. Fossils indicate that Gunneraceae is an ancient family, with Gunnera plants dating back approximately 95 million years.2