Puya raimondii

Puya raimondii

Common Names:

• Queen of the Andes
• Titanka

Phonetic Spelling:

POO-yah ray-mon-DEE-eye

Description:

• Appearance: Puya raimondii is the largest species of bromeliad and can grow up to 15 meters tall when it blooms. The plant forms a rosette of long, narrow, and spiny leaves.
• Leaves: The leaves are gray-green, narrow, and up to 2 meters long. They have sharp spines along the edges.
• Flowers: The plant produces an enormous inflorescence with thousands of white flowers, which can be up to 8 meters tall.
• Fruits: After blooming, the plant dies, but it leaves behind seeds that will grow into new plants.

Distribution/Location:

• Geographic Range: Native to the Andes mountains of Peru and Bolivia.
• Habitat: Found at high altitudes between 3,000 and 4,800 meters in rocky, mountainous terrain.

Environmental Concerns:

• Conservation Status: Vulnerable due to habitat loss and slow growth rate.
• Conservation Efforts: Protected in national parks and through conservation programs in the Andes.

Fun Fact:

Puya raimondii only blooms once in its lifetime, which can take up to 100 years! This rare and spectacular event has earned it the nickname “Queen of the Andes.”