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  • Gunnera tinctoria (Photo: J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)
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Common name
giant rhubarb (English), Chilean gunnera (English), nalca (English), panque (English), Chilean rhubarb (English)
Synonym
Gunnera chilensis , Lam.
Panke tinctoria , Molina (basionym)
Gunnera scabra , (Ruiz.&Pav.)
Similar species
Summary
Gunnera tinctoria is a large herbaceous plant that forms dense colonies that shade out and suppress native vegetation. This species is a vigorous seeder, and birds facilitate its spread. Its ability to reproduce rhizomatically is yet another reason for its invasive nature. Intense effort is required to control this species.
Species Description
Law (2003) states that, \"G. tinctoria is a large, clump-forming, herbaceous plant that grows up to 2m in height. It has stout horizontal rhizomes, and massive umbrella-sized leaves on sturdy petioles. The leaves and their stems are covered in rubbery prickles. Tiny green flowers occur in early summer on conical spikes.\" The Taranaki Regional Council (2003) state that, \"G. tinctoria is a perennial with an exotic tropical appearance with spiny stems some 1.5 to 2m tall. The flower stems resemble elongated broccoli and number up to five per plant, standing up to 1m tall and rising from the base of the leaves (each seed head may contain in excess of 80,000 seeds). In severe winter conditions the plant dies down for the winter and grows new leaves in spring.\"

Williams et al. (2005) describe G. tinctoria as follows, \"G. tinctoria is a summer-green herb, with short, stout, horizontal rhizomes which give rise to stout petioles up to 1000 (1500) 1mm × 45mm that are studded with short reddish prickles. The leaf lamina measures up to about 0.8m × 1.0m with 5-7 lobes. It is very coriaceous, and hairy beneath, especially on the veins. Massive over-wintering buds-up to 250mm long-accumulate on the rhizomes and they are covered in pinkish, pinnatisect scales that extend to the broad leaf midribs. The flowers are borne on panicles that are up to 1m long; usually three or four per plant. Individual flowers are densely packed, sessile, apetalous, with minute sepals, and only c. 1mm long. Style length is slightly less than the ovary. The drupes are reddish, oblong, and 1.5mm-2mm long. Each contains a single ovoid and flanged seed of 1.2mm × 1-1.5mm diameter, weighing 4mg. The hundreds of fruit are regularly arranged and densely packed on the infructescence.\"

Notes
Bergman and Osborne (2002) report that at the end of the nineteenth century it was found that Gunnera tinctoria forms a symbioses with nitrogen fixing Cyanobacteria inside its cells. The Cyanobacteria have been classified as belonging to the genus Nostoc. There is little evidence that the host (including G. tinctoria) can survive to maturity in the absence of the cyanobacterium, and all cultivated and naturally growing plants contain the cyanobiont, irrespective of nutrient availability.
Uses
Plants for a Future (2000) reports that young leaf stalks can be peeled and cooked as a vegetable or eaten raw. They are \"Acidic and refreshing\". G. tinctoria also has medicinal uses as an astringent. This species can also be used as to make a black dye is obtained from the root, and has been used as a roof covering Plants for a Future, 2000).

Williams et al. (2005) reports that, \"In Southern Chile (at latitudes of 36º-42ºS) G. tinctoria is a delicacy associated with Mapuche Indian customs. The young petioles are commonly sold by street vendors and eaten raw, along with salt and chilli to enhance the flavour (E. Villouta pers. comm. 2004).\"

Habitat Description
Gunnera tinctoria has been found in meadows, bogs, gardens, woodlands, sunny edges, and dappled shade. While this species can invade and occupy a variety of habitat it requires moist soils in order to establish (Plants for a Future, 2000). Law (2003) reports G. tinctoria being found on coastal cliffs, riparian zones and wetland areas.

Williams et al. (2005) describes the soils which are favoured by G. tinctoria in New Zealand. The authors state that the most robust stands of the plant are found growing on colluvium or alluvium (colluvium or hillwash is the name for loose bodies of sediment that has been deposited or built up at the bottom of a low grade slope or against a barrier on that slope, as a result of rainwater or downhill creep by gravity. Alluvium is young sediment—freshly eroded rock particles that have come off the hillside and been carried by streams). G. tinctoria grows on substrates derived from a wide range of sedimentary rocks; in the western North Island where the plant is established, most soils also have a large component of volcanic material.
The authors further state that G. tinctoria tolerates salt spray and is found growing right up to the high tide mark in the coasrtal areas that it has invaded. The plant is seen to tolerate seasonally water logged wet soils and establishes less on excessively drained and drought-prone sandy or stony soil.

Reproduction
Law (2003) states that, \"A single G. tinctoria may produce 250,000 seeds in a year, with the seeds being spread by water and by birds. The extensive seed bank allows G. tinctoria to easily re-colonize after mature plants have been removed. This species can also reproduce rhizomatically from fragments.\" Once established, vegetative growth can be rapid with rhizomes increasing by ~15cm annually (Hickey and Osborne, 1999).

Principal source: Williams et al. 2005 Chilean rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria): biology, ecology and conservation impacts in New Zealand
Taranaki Regional Council, 2003. Chilean rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria)

Compiler: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) with support from the Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (TFBIS) Programme (Copyright statement)

Review: Susan Timmins, Plant Ecologist (Weeds) Research, Development & Improvement. Department of Conservation, New Zealand

Publication date: 2005-12-15

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Gunnera tinctoria. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=836 on 02-11-2024.

General Impacts
Law (2003) report that, \"G. tinctoria shades out rare and endangered indigenous flora and fauna. The huge leaves of eachG. tinctoria mean it can impact on a disproportionately large number of the comparatively small, native herbs. Areas that have been cleared of mature G. tinctoria can become re-colonized with numerous seedlings from the original plants, and pieces of the rhizomes that break off will also re-grow. In areas with harsh winter frosts, G. tinctoria is deciduous or semi-deciduous. Once established, it is very invasive and forms dense colonies that shade-out or suppress desirable flora. These characteristics have contributed to it being a serious threat to indigenous biodiversity values in areas it has invaded\". Weedbusters (2003) report that G. tinctoria can block drains and streams; and obstruct access to natural and recreational areas.
Management Info
Preventative measures: If possible,remove and destroy all flower heads as soon as possible, as the germination rate of the seeds is very high.

Chemical: Best results with least bi-kill of desirable adjacent plants has been achieved by spraying with Grazon (triclopyr 600 EC) at 10 mls/litre plus a penetrant. Tordon Brushkiller (picloram & triclopyr)at 10 mls/litre plus a penetrant was also effective but was hard on nearby desirable plants (Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) and the Gunnera tinctoria specialist at the local Department of Conservation office at Stratford (DoC), New Zealand., pers.comm., June 2008).

Cultural: Law (2003) reports that in New Zealand, extensive outreach programs have been initiated to educate the public on the dangers of this invasive. Newspaper articles and public advertisements have been created. Coastal landowners have had personal visits from Rangers who inform the landowners and invite them to participate in government sponsored control trials. The author also states that, \"In cases where landowners are required to destroy G. tinctoria in a garden situation, a similarly striking, benign plant can be recommended as a replacement. In riparian situations, possible replacement plants include Carex secta or toetoe, depending on the scale of the site.\"

Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Gunnera tinctoria
NATIVE RANGE
  • argentina
  • bolivia
  • brazil
  • chile
  • colombia
  • ecuador
  • peru
  • south america
Informations on Gunnera tinctoria has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
Lorem Ipsum
Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Gunnera tinctoria in information
Status
Invasiveness
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Impact information
Law (2003) report that, \"G. tinctoria shades out rare and endangered indigenous flora and fauna. The huge leaves of eachG. tinctoria mean it can impact on a disproportionately large number of the comparatively small, native herbs. Areas that have been cleared of mature G. tinctoria can become re-colonized with numerous seedlings from the original plants, and pieces of the rhizomes that break off will also re-grow. In areas with harsh winter frosts, G. tinctoria is deciduous or semi-deciduous. Once established, it is very invasive and forms dense colonies that shade-out or suppress desirable flora. These characteristics have contributed to it being a serious threat to indigenous biodiversity values in areas it has invaded\". Weedbusters (2003) report that G. tinctoria can block drains and streams; and obstruct access to natural and recreational areas.
Red List assessed species 0:
Mechanism
[3] Competition
Outcomes
[10] Environmental Ecosystem - Habitat
  • [1] Modification of nutrient pool and fluxes
  • [4] Reduction in native biodiversity
  • [3] Habitat degradation
  • [1] Modification of successional patterns
  • [1] Soil or sediment modification: erosion
[4] Socio-Economic
  • [2] Alteration of recreational use and tourism
  • [2] Limited access to water, land and other
Management information
Preventative measures: If possible,remove and destroy all flower heads as soon as possible, as the germination rate of the seeds is very high.

Chemical: Best results with least bi-kill of desirable adjacent plants has been achieved by spraying with Grazon (triclopyr 600 EC) at 10 mls/litre plus a penetrant. Tordon Brushkiller (picloram & triclopyr)at 10 mls/litre plus a penetrant was also effective but was hard on nearby desirable plants (Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) and the Gunnera tinctoria specialist at the local Department of Conservation office at Stratford (DoC), New Zealand., pers.comm., June 2008).

Cultural: Law (2003) reports that in New Zealand, extensive outreach programs have been initiated to educate the public on the dangers of this invasive. Newspaper articles and public advertisements have been created. Coastal landowners have had personal visits from Rangers who inform the landowners and invite them to participate in government sponsored control trials. The author also states that, \"In cases where landowners are required to destroy G. tinctoria in a garden situation, a similarly striking, benign plant can be recommended as a replacement. In riparian situations, possible replacement plants include Carex secta or toetoe, depending on the scale of the site.\"

Bibliography
20 references found for Gunnera tinctoria

Management information
Alien Plants in Ireland, 2007. Gunnera tinctoria
Summary: The database of alien plants in Ireland contains detailed information on 715 alien plant taxa currently occurring in (semi-) natural habitats in Ireland (both the Republic and Northern-Ireland). This database was developed in 2006 at the School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, as part of the BioChange project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ireland.
Available from: http://www.biochange.ie/alienplants/index.php [Accessed April 26 2007]
This page available from: http://www.biochange.ie/alienplants/result_species.php?species=484&volg=i&lang=latin&p=i [Accessed 26 April 2007]
Buckley, P., and A. M. O Regan. UNDATED. Thematic Report on Alien Species. Convention on Biological Diversity in Ireland.
Department of Environment and Conservation. UNDATED. Gunnera tinctoria. Mount Tomah Botanical Gardens.
Summary: Available from: http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/mount_tomah_botanic_garden/garden_features/blooming_calendar/Gunnera_tinctoria [Accessed 06 July 2005]
Law, C. 2003. Giant problems for Taranaki. Taranaki Regional Council: Protect 2003.
National Pest Plant Accord, 2001. Biosecurity New Zealand.
Summary: The National Pest Plant Accord is a cooperative agreement between regional councils and government departments with biosecurity responsibilities. Under the accord, regional councils will undertake surveillance to prevent the commercial sale and/or distribution of an agreed list of pest plants.
Available from: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests-diseases/plants/accord.htm [Accessed 11 August 2005]
Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH), 2005. Chilean rhubarb Gunnera tinctoria
Summary: Available from: http://www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/nppa_025.pdf [Accessed 1 October 2005]
Taranaki Regional Council. 2003. Chilean rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria). The Pest Plant Management Section.
Weedbusters. 2003. Chilean rhubarb. New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy & New Zealand Biosecurity Strategy.
Summary: Available from:http://www.weedbusters.co.nz/news/news_articles/news01.asp?NewsID=8 [Accessed 06 July 2005]
General information
Bergman, B., and B. Osborne. 2002. The Gunnera-Nostoc Symbiosis. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 102(1):35-39.
Department of Conservation Annual Report 2002/03 C.13 For the year ended 30 June 2003. Presented to the House of Representatives pursuant to Section 39 of the Public Finance Act 1989
Hickey, B., and B. Osborne. 1999. Natural Seed-banks, seedling growth, and survival in areas invaded by Gunnera tinctoria (Molina) Mirbel .Proceedings 5th International Conference on the Ecology of Invasive Alien Plants 13-16 October 1999 La Maddalena Sardinia Italy.
ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). 2005. Online Database Gunnera tinctoria.
Summary: An online database that provides taxonomic information, common names, synonyms and geographical jurisdiction of a species. In addition links are provided to retrieve biological records and collection information from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Data Portal and bioscience articles from BioOne journals.
Available from: http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=502841 [Accessed March 2005]
Silva, L. 1999. Clethra arborea an Invader within Macaronesia. Proceedings 5th International Conference on the Ecology of Invasive Alien Plants 13-16 October 1999 La Maddalena Sardinia Italy.
Trowbridge, L. 2001. Azores temperate mixed forests (PA0403). World Wildlife Fund.
USDA-NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service). 2005. Gunnera tinctoria. The PLANTS Database Version 3.5 [Online Database] National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA.
Summary: Available from: http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?mode=Scientific+Name&keywordquery=Gunnera+tinctoria&go.x=10&go.y=9 [Accessed 06 March 2006]
Wilson, H. D. 1987. Vascular plants of Stewart Island (New Zealand). Vegetation of Stewart Island, New Zealand: 81-131 (Supplement to New Zealand Journal of Botany. 1987)
Contact
The following 1 contacts offer information an advice on Gunnera tinctoria
Timmins,
Susan
Organization:
Plant Ecologist (Weeds)
Address:
Research, Development & Improvement Department of Conservation, PO Box 10-420, Wellington, New Zealand
Phone:
64 4 471 3234
Fax:
64 4 471 3279
Gunnera tinctoria
giant rhubarb, Chilean gunnera, nalca, panque, Chilean rhubarb
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Recommended citation
(2024). Gunnera tinctoria. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).