Weighing up the river plant
Name: GunneraperpensaL. Family: Gunneraceae Common names: Engl. River Pumpkin, Wild Rhubarb Afr. Wilde Pampoen, Wilde Ramenas,Wilderabarber Xho. Iphuzi lomlambo, Uthangazana
Description
Perennial herb up to 60cm tall when in flower. Leaves are smooth, round or kidneyshaped, margins lobed, with small rough edged teeth, stalk. Flowers are in spikes 200900mm; flowers tiny, pinkish reddish brown, male flowers above, female flowers below.
Root is rhizome, yellow in colour, fleshy, up to 3cm. Fruit are small and fleshy.
Flowering from October to January.
Conservation status
According to the SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) Red list of South African Plants, Gunnera perpensa was not selected in any one of four screening processes for highlighting potential taxa of conservation concern for detailed assessment and was hence given an automated status of Least Concern (LC).
The Threatened Species Programme is currently systematically completing full assessments for all taxa with an automated status. http:// redlist.sanbi.org Learn about our natural heritage and the links between cultural and biological diversity
Distribution and habitat
Gunnera perpensa grows in swampy places, ditches and river banks, coast to 2 400m, from Cape to Ethiopia. Provincial distribution: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZuluNatal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape.
Derivation of name and historical aspects
The genus Gunnera was named after the Norwegian bishop and botanist Johan Ernst Gunnerus (1718-1773), who published a description of the flora of his country ( Flora Norvegica 1766-1772). At the first the genus assigned to the family Haloragaceae, though that did present difficulties that led to the general recognition of the family Gunneraceae, as had been proposed about the beginning of 20th century. In Latin, perpenso means to weigh exactly or consider carefully, which points to the impact of its bold majestic appearance has as well as the importance of its presence to the wetland.
Iphuzi and ithanga are both names for a pumpkin to which this wild, water-loving plant bears a striking resemblance, hence the names iphuzi lomlambo (river pumpkin) and uthangazana (small pumpkin).
Ecology
All the Gunnera species are wild pollinated and the fruit are fleshy berries that are dispersed by birds.
Uses and cultural aspects
An infusion of the rhizome is taken orally to treat anaemia ( umlambo). Other people use it to induce or augment labour and as antenatal medication to tone the uterus. It is used in expulsion of the placenta and may be taken to treat stomach trouble, rheumatic fever, swellings, menstrual pain and stomach bleeding or applied externally for the dressing of wounds and for psoriasis.
Growing Gunnera Propagation by seed
Select a seed planting site that receives at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. Remove any preexisting vegetation from the site. Spread a 7-15cm layer of organic matter, such as wellaged manure, compost and leaf mold, over the planting site soil. Mix the soil amendments thoroughly into the top 25-30cm of soil with a dirt shovel rototiller. Mix in perlite, if necessary, to improve drainage. Rake the soil smooth with a dirt rake. Collect the seeds from the cone shaped gunnera flowers after they go to seed in June. Moisten the soil at the seed planting site with water. Sow the seeds 15-20cm apart and no deeper than 1 to 2 times the seed diameter. Keep the soil uniformly moist but not soggy. Thin the plants the plants to 1.5-3.5m apart when they grow to 30cm tall. Con- tinue to keep the soil moist at all times. On how to propagate by rhizome division: further read
•In Local and Lovely, learn about our natural heritage and the links between cultural and biological diversity. Someleze Mgcuwa is a plant digitiser for the Karoo Bio gaps project, based in the Schonland Herbarium.
References and further reading
Batten, A. & Bokelmann. H. 2011. Wild Flowers of the Eastern Cape Province. 1966. Books of Africa, 1005 Cape of Good- hope Savings Bank Building, St. George’s Street, Cape Town.
Dold, T., Cocks, M. 2012. Voices from the Forest, Celebrating Nature and Culture in Xhosaland. Jacana Media, Sunnyside, Auckland Park, South Africa.
Pooley, E. 2005. A Field Guide to Wild Flowers, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. The Flora Publications
Trust, c/o Natal Herbarium, Botanical Gardens Road, Durban 4001.
Van Wyk, B.E., van Oudtshoorn, B., Gericke, N. Medicinal Plants of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria
www.plantzafrica.com