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Gunnera monoica is a herb, and it is one of the smallest species of Gunnera. This genus of flowering plants includes a grand total of 63 different species and, whilst you may have heard of one of its family members, rhubarb, (scientifically named Gunnera manicata), the little Gunnera monoica is no where near as well known. Unlike its Brazilian cousin, Gunnera monoica is endemic to the small country of New Zealand. With leaves of around 3cm (1.2in) wide, it spreads by forming stolons in the drama ground. The leaves have a rounded appearance and either a corrugated or spiky margin. G. monoica flowers between October and November, and produces fruit from December until February. This fruit is barrel shaped and white in colour, though some varieties may have purple or red flecks.

(Landcare Research. (2022). Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Gunnera monoica. NZflora. https://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/Taxon/Gunnera-monoica.html)

Description
The Gunnera monoica is quite a quirky little plant, which acts and grows as a ground-coverage plant. This is ground-covering attribute of the plant is caused by the rhizomes spreading out, forming a thick layer. G. Monoica very much resembles just a simply, smaller version of its larger cousin, the rhubarb. As mentioned above, Gunnera monoica leaves only stretch to a diameter of 2-3cm/1inch. The leaves are darker green in colour with hairs and appear to be more or less rounded in shape and serrated, meaning that each leaves outer edges are jagged and toothed. These leaves like the sunlight, and grow best in positions of full sun to shaded areas. As for the leaves, this plant is deciduous, and therefore looses its leaves seasonally, taking upon a bare and dry appearance. As for the characteristics of the flowers, they aren’t as striking as those of other plants but rather come with the presence of fruit. During its flowering time, the Gunnera monoica produce green/white flowers as well as red/orange fruit.

Te Papa. (n.d.-a). Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/797082

(Landcare Research. (2022). Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Gunnera monoica. NZflora. https://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/Taxon/Gunnera-monoica.html)

Distribution
The Gunnera family of plants has species found mostly throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Within its natural and endemic home of New Zealand, Gunnera monoica is found in places all throughout the country, growing in both the North and South Island. G.Monoica have, in particular, also been found growing on New Zealand’s Chatham islands. Although the Gunnera monoica is endemic to New Zealand, it can however, of course with its larger other family members, be found in other places across the Southern Hemisphere, for example South America (eg. Brazil). The natural and preferred habitat of growth for the Gunnera family is somewhere with sunlight with amounts of shade. Moist, damp soil that is acidic and contains plenty of nutrients is also essential to their growth and allows for the rhizomes to spread and create the ground-coverage effect this plant is known for. These plants can be considered aquatic, and this is due to how they thrive when ideally rooted next to a pond, as that’s where they can soak up high amounts of rich nutrients from the soil. Regular providence of water is the key to a healthy growing G.Monoica.

(Department of Conservation. (2018, February 19). Goodbye Gunnera, be gone old friend. Conservation Blog. https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2018/02/20/goodbye-gunnera/)

(Landcare Research. (2022). Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Gunnera monoica. NZflora. https://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/Taxon/Gunnera-monoica.html)

Life Cycle
Gunnera seeds are spread by wind and frugivory birds who eat them and discrete them in their excrement across the land. Gunnera genus species have a germination period of approximately 15-60 days. In terms of the general growing and life cycle of the Gunnera monoica, when the seeds are planted, the roots grow down and absorb large amounts of water and nutrients from the soil in order to give them a go kick start at growing into the largely-covering plant they come. G.monoica should ideally be planted in rich and moist soil in order for this to happen, and in the wild are particularly found next to ponds or rocky bog areas. Once the plant starts growing, it grows horizontally outwards, rather than upwards, with the G.monoica’s tallest leaves on reaching 3-4 inches above ground level. During their lifecycle, their purpose is to create a sort of ‘mat’ along the ground, covering the earth densely. The life cycle of the Gunnera monoica includes the fact that it is deciduous. In the colder winter seasons, G.monoica is deciduous to temperatures as low as approximately -18 degrees celsius. G.monoica is seen in an evergreen state during its warmer months, being in an evergreen state at temperatures -5 degrees celsius and above. During the warmer seasons, the plant can be seen bearing green/white coloured flowers and red/orange fruit, although not immediately obvious to the eye. Tiny white fruits appear on these plants in the summer times. This whole process repeats annually, completing the lifecycle of the Gunnera monoica over and over again.

(Department of Conservation. (2018, February 19). Goodbye Gunnera, be gone old friend. Conservation Blog. https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2018/02/20/goodbye-gunnera/)

(Landcare Research. (2022). Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Gunnera monoica. NZflora. https://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/Taxon/Gunnera-monoica.html)

Interactions
Gunnera monoica interact with the soil they are planted in as they use it to grow. As mentioned before, moist, damp, soft soil is needed for them to grow as it contains rich nutrients in high amounts. G.monoica do best and thrive in soil that can consistently provide them with these high amounts of nutrients. G.monoica interacts with the sun as it prefers large amounts of sunlight with only certain amounts shade. When interacting with sunlight, the leaves can therefore carry out photosynthesis. Gunnera monoica has another interaction with those species which eat off it. Frugivory birds feed on the fruits of the plant as well as ants, who also eat the leaves. When the seeds of this fruit are eaten by these animals, such as the frugivory bird, the seeds are then dropped off in other places, helping the species grow and cover an even larger amount of land. Herbivores are not seen eating on the Gunnera Monica. Firstly, New Zealand is not home to any native herbivores, and the introduced deer found through New Zealand do not eat on the Gunnera- this plant is deer resistant.

Te Papa. (n.d.-a). Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/797082

(Department of Conservation. (2018, February 19). Goodbye Gunnera, be gone old friend. Conservation Blog. https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2018/02/20/goodbye-gunnera/)

Further Information
Further information about the Gunnera genus as a whole (including its tiny Gunnera monoica) would include how the extensive and uncontrolled growth of the species is actually quite a problem. Due to being such a successful plant, it is a known problem that gunnera grow fast, overtake other plants, and take resources from other plants. Their horizontal growth is so rapid and vast that they win within competition against other plant organisms. Not to mention the land area they cover so fast and take over. This makes this herb a pest or an invader in many peoples eyes. This issue especially effects society as they take over roads, natural forest areas and other aquatic environment areas.

(Department of Conservation. (2018, February 19). Goodbye Gunnera, be gone old friend. Conservation Blog. https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2018/02/20/goodbye-gunnera/)