Puya (genus)
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Puya is a genus of 160-180 species of terrestrial plants in the bromeliad family Bromeliaceae. They are native to the Andes Mountains of South America and southern Central America. Many of the species are monocarpic, with the parent plant dying after one flower and seed production event.
The species Puya raimondii is notable as the largest species of bromeliad known, reaching 3 m tall in vegetative growth with a flower spike 9-10 m tall. The other species are also large, with the flower spikes mostly reaching 1-4 m tall.
The name 'Puya' was derived from the Mapuche Indian (Chile) word meaning "point".
Some species of Puya in Chile are locally known as chagual, and they are used to make salads from the base of its young leaves.
External links
- [Puya raimondii photos]
- Pictures of [Puya berteroniana], [Puya coerulea] and [Puya venusta] growing in Chile.
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