SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WHERE I LIVE

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Dinosaur Food--+-+-+-+-+-+-+Todays flowers

This is a gunnera plant---but NOT in my yard. I took these photos in a neighborhood in a small town about 20 minutes from my house. I had one once but it didn't survive one winter. they are an amazing almost prehistoric plant. A fellow at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Wa. renamed it 'Dinosaur Food'. And it could have been.

Gunnera manicata, is an ornamental plant in the Gunneraceae family, and is native to Brazil.

The underside of the leaf and the whole stalk have spikes on them. The leaves of Gunnera grow to an impressive size. Leaves with diameters well in excess of four feet are commonplace, with a spread of 10 feet by 10 feet on a mature plant. This plant grows best in damp conditions eg by the side of garden ponds, but dislikes winter cold and wet.

If you would like to see flowers from all over the world or to participate just click on the yellow Sunflower to you right. Thank you~







8 comments:

SquirrelQueen said...

Wow, that is impressive. I bet the dinosaurs thought that was a very tasty treat. I have never seen or heard of it before, thanks for sharing.
SQ

Maria Berg said...

I have seen that plants in Parks, and i would like to have it in my garden and the dinosaurs so until They start living again and I get a bigger garden I leave it (I have Rodgersia - it will be half the size.

/MB

Lois said...

It's gorgeous! I have never heard of one before. Thanks for the info!

VALKYRIEN said...

Very impressive plant, and I have never heard of it before! Looks big!

Great post for Today's Flower! There is always something new to learn and see!

Have a great week!
Valkyrien

Anonymous said...

Very interesting! I had never heard of this plant before.

Maria said...

It's an amazing plant indeed! But lovely! I love the thought of dinosaurs nibbling of them :)

EG CameraGirl said...

I've heard of this plant but I've never seen it. Perfect for dinosaurs!

Alpicks Treasures said...

why are they so BIG!