Gunnera magnifica
# Gunnera magnifica

Gunnera magnifica, commonly called hoja de pantano, is a large herbaceous shrub or tree-like plant native to the montane rainforests of the Colombian Andes in Caldas Province. It can grow as high as 4.7 meters (15 feet) The lower trunk is decumbent and rhizomatous, while the upper trunk is upright and palm-like. This pachycaul trunk is up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) thick. At the top is a rosette of huge leaves, the blade, or lamina of which is up to 115 cm (45 in) long by up to 184 cm (six feet) in width. The stalk, or petiole is 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) in length and 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) in thickness. These huge leaves emerge from a bud up to two feet (61 centimeters) long by up to 16 inches (41 cm) wide; the largest leaf bud of any known plant. The panicle of red, dimerous (two sepals, two petals, two stamens, and a two styled pistel) flowers, panicle and pedicel combined, is up to 2.7 meters (8 feet 10 inches) in height. The bud scales covering the terminal bud are up to 39 cm (15 in) in length by up to 7.5 cm (three inches) wide, the largest of any known plant.

