About Puya chilensis Molina
Puya chilensis Molina is an evergreen perennial plant that forms large, dense rosettes of grey-green, strap-like leaves. The edges of its leaves have hooked spines; outward-pointing spines grow along the outer two-thirds of the leaf blade, which may be an adaptation to stop herbivores from reaching the center of the plant. Its green or yellow flowers grow on spikes that resemble a medieval mace, and these spikes can reach up to 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) tall. This species spreads through offsets, so it can gradually colonize large areas over time. It grows very slowly, and individual plants may take 20 years or longer to produce their first flowers. In the wild, Puya chilensis is most commonly found growing on arid hillsides of the Andes, specifically on north-facing slopes of matorral areas at elevations between 300 and 1,000 meters (980 to 3,280 feet) above sea level.
