Thursday, October 20, 2011
Largest Giant Rhubarb Leaf: Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens sets world record
DORSET, UK -- Grown at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset, the giant Gunnera Manicata (known as a Giant Rhubarb), has a leaf with an 11ft span - setting theworld record for the Largest Garden Giant Rhubarb Leaf, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com).
Photo: Steve Griffith, garden curator at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset, shows the World's Largest Giant Rhubarb Leaf. (enlarge photo)
The Guinness world record for the largest maple leaf measured 53 cm (20.86 in) wide and 52.2 cm (20.55 in) long and was discovered by Vikas Tanwar and family (all Canada) in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the record for the largest collection of four-leaf clovers belongs to Edward Martin Sr. from Cooper Landing, Alaska, USA, with 111,060 four-leaf clovers.
The World's Largest Giant Rhubarb, native to Brazil, has been growing at the gardens for the last 30 years but its leaves this year are three feet longer than usual.
It is believed the wet summer is responsible for the booming of the bog-loving behemoth.
Gunnera manicata is native to the cloud forests of the Andes. In its native habitat, individual leaves can be as much as 10ft across, making this one of the world's largest perennial plants.
Curator Stephen Griffith believes his leaves are the largest in Britain and the bounty is a bonus after last winter's cold weather caused serious harm to several plants.
He said: 'The damp cool summer we had has produced some enormous leaves, including this one that measures 3.3 metres across and could be a record breaker.'
The leaves of the plant - which is known as a Giant Rhubarb - are usually about 8ft wide.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Horticultural Society described Abbotsbury's leaf as 'something of a monster'.
Related world records:
Largest maple leaf: Eve Steel
Heaviest squash: Joel Jarvis (Video)
Heaviest onion: Peter Glazebrook (HD Video)
Heaviest swede: Ian Neale
Largest Fungus: Tropical Chinese fungus
First all-black petunia: Black Velvet
Largest maple leaf: Eve Steel
Largest puffball: Finley O'Neill
Largest Pumpkin: Chris Stevens
Longest cucumber: Clare Pearce
Smallest
Waterlily:Nymphaea thermarum
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diverse repository of crop seeds: Svalbard Global Seed Vault
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Mango: Sergio and Maria Socorro Bodiongan
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Living Palmer's Oak: Jurupa Oak
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Zinnia: Everett Wallace Jr. and
Melody Wagner
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living Christmas tree: Coeur d'Alene
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orchid: Lou Jost
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maple leaf: Hailey Nickolson
Most
tomatoes grown on a single truss: Graham Tranter
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rose bush: Robert Bendel
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pumpkin: Christy Harp
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gooseberry: Bryan Nellist
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Cactus: SDM College of Dental Sciences
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rutabaga: Scott Robb
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cabbage: Steve Hubacek
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Cucumber: Yitzhak Yazdanpana
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organic cucumber: Segee family
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potato: Khalil Semhat
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rutabaga: Norm Craven
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cobs on a maize plant: Mark Wozencroft
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cucumber - Alf Cobb
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marrow: Ken Dade
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Spaghetti Bean: Toni Velardo
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water spinach: Li Hui
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horizontal wall of flowers: Thompson and Morgan
Thursday, October 20, 2011 |