Gunnera hamiltonii

Taxobox
name = "Gunnera hamiltonii"
regnum = Plantae
phylum = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Gunnerales
familia = Gunneraceae
genus = "Gunnera"
species = "G. hamiltonii"
binomial = "Gunnera hamiltonii"
binomial_authority = Kirk, 1895

"Gunnera hamiltonii" is a creeping herbaceous plant in the family Gunneraceae, with clusters of small (2 to 7 cm) grey-brown leaves forming a dense mat. Small green flowers are followed by red berries in the autumn.

It is one of the rarest plants in its native New Zealand, with Southland and Stewart Island/Rakiura representing two of the suspected 5 remaining natural habitats. Natural fertilisation of these plants is now difficult as the male and female plants are separate.

External links

* [http://www.envirosouth.govt.nz/Departments/Biodiversity/Native%20Plant%20Factsheets/Special%20Southland%20Plants.htm Environment Southland factsheet - see sidebar]
* [http://www.victoria-adventure.org/aquatic_plants/werner_2003/gunnera_hamiltonii01.html Photo of cultivated "Gunnera hamiltonii"]
* [http://telperion.otago.ac.nz/erg/level2/dunes.htm New Zealand Duneland Ecology - includes photo of wild "Gunnera hamiltonii"]