Gunneraceae

The Gunneraceae is a small family of flowering plants, part of the order Gunnerales. This family primarily contains the genus Gunnera, which includes about 40 to 50 species. While members of Gunneraceae and the related family Myrothamnaceae appear very different—with Gunnera species often being large herbs in humid areas and Myrothamnus being "resurrection plants" from dry regions—they share anatomical similarities. Both have toothed leaves, stipules, and flowers with male and female parts on different plant sections. Gunnera plants are known for their symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing algae and can have very large leaves. Fossils indicate this is an ancient family, dating back around 95 million years.1