Jepson Herbarium
		University of California, Berkeley

Directory       News       Site Map       Home

Indexes to all accepted names and synonyms: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

Perennial, often large, terrestrial [semi- aquatic]; rhizome often with large scales.
Stem: ± 0.
Leaf: simple, generally alternate, often large; stipules 0; blades < to > petioles, ± round to reniform or ovate, generally toothed or lobed.
Inflorescence: panicle (generally spikes along 1° axis), terminal or from upper axils, large; flowers many, often pistillate below, staminate above, bisexual between.
Flower: very small, unisexual or bisexual; sepals generally 2 [± 0]; petals 2 [0]; stamens 1–2; ovary inferior, chamber 1, styles 2.
Fruit: drupe.
1 genus, ± 35 species: Mex, s hemisphere, HI; several cultivated. Rhizome scales previously interpreted as stipules. —Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.

(J.E. Gunner, Norwegian bishop, botanist, 1718–1773) [Wanntorp & De Craene 2005 Int J Plant Sci 166:945–953] Plants obtain fixed nitrogen from cyanobacteria (Nostoc) living just under surface of rhizomes, roots, in the only such symbiosis in angiosperms.

Rhizome scales 10–20 cm, deeply cut.
Leaf: covered with stiff, hard prickles; petiole 1–1.5 m; blade 1–2 m, ± round, ± concave abaxially, thick, rough, main lobes palmate, teeth irregular, veins prominent, especially abaxially.
Inflorescence: arising ± from ground, 50–75[100] cm, < 10 cm wide, ± conic; spikes many, dense, 2–5 cm, stout; peduncle generally 2–20 cm.
Flower: style < 1.2 mm, >= sepals.
Fruit: many, 1–2 mm, ± red, ovate to oblong.
Uncommon. Disturbed, shaded, damp areas; < 100 m. Central Coast (Marin, San Francisco cos.);

Previous taxon: Gunnera
Next taxon: Haloragaceae

Contact/Feedback

Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

Copyright © 2012 Regents of the University of California
We encourage links to these pages, but the content may not be downloaded for reposting, repackaging, redistributing, or sale in any form, without written permission from The Jepson Herbarium.

Bioregions in which taxon occurs	Red area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon; markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may have georeferencing or identification issues.
Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.	Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. View all CCH records   CCH collections by month Duplicates counted once; synonyms included. Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa. Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.