River pumpkin
Gunnera perpensa
Family: Gunneraceae
What it is like
A fleshy perennial herb. It forms suckers. It does not have a stem above ground. The leaves arise from the ground. The leaves are large and kidney shaped and 30 cm across. The leaf stalks are 60 cm long. The flowering stalk arises from the ground. It can be 90 cm high. The flowers are small and coppery-red in open sprays. The fruit are somewhat fleshy.
There are about 68 Gunnera species. They are in the southern hemisphere and in cool or cold places.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. They grow in wet boggy conditions. It grows on the edges or rivers and pools. It is rare in Swaziland. In Zimbabwe it grows above 1,500 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The leaf stalk is eaten raw. The stem is eaten raw as a relish. It is bitter unless the fibres and other coverings are removed. It is also used for making beer. The roots are eaten after removing the outer skin.
Edible parts
Leaves, stem, roots, flowers
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from tuberous rhizomes. It can be grown from divided clumps.
Its other names
Local names
Cobho, Gobho, Iphuzi lomlambo Iqhobo, Qobo, Qobho, Rambola-vhadzimu, Shambodavhadzimu, Ugobhe, Uqobho, Wilderabarber