colonies the damp shaded forest gullies
- Size
- Height: 10–20 cm
- Lifespan
- 5–10 years
- Diet
- Photosynthetic. Draws energy from sunlight. Obtains nutrients from moist, fertile soils.
- Habitat
- Damp forest, stream banks, gullies and shaded sites. Prefers moist, fertile soils with partial to full shade. Often forms colonies in damp, shaded areas.
- Range
- Throughout New Zealand from Northland to Stewart Island. Most common in damp, shaded forest and along stream banks. Also found on Chatham Islands and South America.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- Habitat loss from land clearance is primary threat. Climate change affecting forest habitats. No significant pest or disease issues.
- Population
- Populations considered stable and widespread. Species common in damp forest throughout New Zealand. Threatened by ongoing habitat loss.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- caution
- Handling Note
- large leaves with spiny margins, can cause minor cuts
- Conservation Note
- Endemic herb; widespread in damp forests and wetlands throughout New Zealand.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition pāpapa used as green vegetable. Leaves eaten fresh or cooked. Small, red fruits eaten as sweet treat. Plant also used medicinally. Name pāpapa means flat or spreading. Referring to plant's growth habit. Ability to grow in deep shade noted. Plant of deep forest. Gathered by those who knew damp gullies.
Taste the leaves. Gunnera monoica is small, creeping herb. Rounded, kidney-shaped leaves. Mild flavour. Eaten by Māori. Plant of damp forest.
Leaves are plant's most distinctive feature. Rounded and kidney-shaped. Scalloped margins and crinkled texture. Held on long stalks rising from creeping stem. Colour is bright, glossy green. Covered in small hairs. Giving them soft, velvety texture. Plant that is soft to touch.
Flowers are small and inconspicuous. Arranged in spikes rising above leaves. Followed by small, red fruits. Sweet and juicy. Fruits eaten by birds which disperse seeds.
Plant grows in dense colonies in damp, shaded forest. Prefers banks of streams and floors of damp gullies. Important ground cover in these habitats. Preventing erosion and providing shelter for small animals.
Leaves were eaten by Māori as green vegetable. Mild flavour similar to spinach. Can be eaten raw or cooked. Fruits eaten as sweet treat. Small burst of sweetness in damp forest.
To find native gunnera is to walk damp forest floors and stream banks. Damp forest is dark. Gunnera creeps, kidney-shaped leaves glossy green. Small red fruits bright. Leaf is picked and tasted. Mild, like spinach. Fruit is sweet. Plant does not know it fed Māori. Does not know it prevents erosion.
It just wants to grow where it is damp. Plant of shaded damp. Quiet presence on forest floor. Leaves soft to touch. Fruits sweet to taste. Gunnera of understorey. Green of damp places. That is its job.