''Gunnera'' × ''cryptica'' is a hybrid between ''
Gunnera manicata
''Gunnera manicata'', known as Brazilian giant-rhubarb or giant rhubarb, is a species of flowering plant in the family Gunneraceae from the coastal Serra do Mar Mountains of Santa Catarina, Parana and Rio Grande do Sul States, Brazil. In cultiva ...
'' and ''
Gunnera tinctoria
''Gunnera tinctoria'', known as giant rhubarb, Chilean rhubarb, or ''nalca'', is a flowering plant species native to southern Chile and neighboring zones in Argentina. It is unrelated to rhubarb, as the two plants belong to different order (biol ...
''. Both species were introduced into cultivation in Western Europe towards the end of the 19th century. The hybrid occurred spontaneously in cultivation, in Europe probably around 1873. Both morphological and molecular analyses have shown that plants widely cultivated in Britain and Ireland under the name ''Gunnera manicata'' were all the hybrid, and that the true species ''G. manicata'' is no longer found there. This situation may also be the case in Europe and other parts of the world. The hybrid is more resistant to frost and adverse conditions than ''G. manicata'', which is likely to be why it has replaced it in cultivation.
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Description
''Gunnera'' × ''cryptica'' is a giant herbaceous plant
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition o ...
growing from rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...
s. Rosettes of leaves are produced annually. The leaves on mature plants may reach about across, but leaf size varies depending on the age of the plant and where it is growing. The leaves may be slightly asymmetrical, and have 5–7 conspicuous lobes, usually with pointed tips, and with toothed margins. The radius of the leaf at a division between lobes is about a half to two thirds of the radius of a lobe. The base of the leaf is usually heart-shaped (cordate); the basal lobes do not usually overlap when the leaf is mature. The leaf stalks (petioles) may be up to about long, and are usually covered with long prickles. The flowers are borne in axillary solitary inflorescence
In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...
s, loosely branched with branches to about long or less. Flowers are densely packed along the branches. Individual flowers have sepals long. Solitary or paired petals are found only sporadically. Flowers may have one or two stamens, or none. Fruit is rarely produced.[
''Gunnera'' × ''cryptica'' may be distinguished from ''G. manicata'' by the open sinus at the leaf base. Its main leaf veins are often asymmetrically branched. The inflorescence branches are shorter, up to long. It may be distinguished from ''G. tinctoria'' by the presence of basal leaf lobes that sometimes slightly overlap. Its inflorescence is conical, rather than less open and club-shaped.][
''Gunnera'' × ''cryptica'' has ]hybrid vigour
Heterosis, hybrid vigor, or outbreeding enhancement is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring. An offspring is heterotic if its traits are enhanced as a result of mixing the genetic contributions o ...
, and is more resistant to frost and adverse conditions than ''G. manicata'', which is likely to be why it replaced it in cultivation.[
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Taxonomy
The identity and nomenclature of some ''Gunnera'' species are confused. One of the parents of ''G.'' × ''cryptica'', ''G. tinctoria'', has been confused with other ''Gunnera'' taxa from western South America, and may be treated under the synonyms ''G. scabra'' or ''G. thyrsiflora'' .[ ''G. tinctoria'' is ]native
Native may refer to:
People
* '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood
* '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth
* Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory
** Nat ...
to south Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
and central and south Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...
.[ ''G. manicata'' is ]endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to south Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
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Cultivation
In December 2023, it was announced that ''Gunnera'' × ''cryptica'' (which is usually grown under the name ''Gunnera manicata'') was to be subject to a ban in the UK, meaning it cannot be sold or cultivated, and those who have it in their gardens must ensure it does not spread.
References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q117711454
cryptica