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Yareta

Azorella compacta

Photo by Ozbird
Published on Project Noah
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Species ID Suggestions

Yareta

Azorella compacta

Reference Link
DanielePralong
3

Comments (23)
LisaPowers
Project Noah Fact of the Day: There are so many interesting facts about this unusual plant that we felt it was only right to share them all with you from this fascinating article from our friends at Science Friday! http://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/picture-of-the-week-llareta/ Yareta (Azorella compacta) spotted in Bolivia by PN user PieterColpaert. https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10156666079970603/?type=3&theater
Ozbird
Thx Joshua and Jason!
Ozbird
Thank you Neil. It feels actually really hard, almost like stone. But it is not growing on rock, it is the plant itself. You can check the article DanielePralong posted here at the first comment, it explains everything a little bit more!
Neil Ross
Now that is fascinating, Pieter. It looks like it's growing on rock. Can you tell me what it feels like? What's happening beneath all that beautiful green surface? Ava is right - this is an amazing being. So ancient, and beautiful.
dotun55
Awesome! Like dino poo : )
Ozbird
Thx again Daniele! And thank you Leuba, Gilma, Randy and Rosa for your nice comments!
DanielePralong
Great to see this featured and that it is so popular! Extreme life forms are very interesting. Great pictures by the way Pieter!
Leuba Ridgway
....and thanks to Daniele Pralong for the ID - interesting information.
Leuba Ridgway
Amazing and what lovely shapes ! especially when the rest of the place looks barren, dry and windswept. Thanks for sharing this, Pieter.
Rosa Maria
Nice I just heard about this on NPR! :)
Ozbird
Thank you very much KarenL and ProjectNoah, a great honour to be chosen as a fun fact!
KarenL
Fun fact! The yareta is a flowering plant that only grows at altitudes of between 3,200 and 4,500 meters in the Puna grasslands of the Andes. Although some plants reach a massive size, it is estimated to grow just 1.5 centimeters per year, and many yaretas are believed to be over 3,000 years old. https://upload.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10154168615755603/?type=1
Ozbird
Hi Ava T-B, it is not the 'exact' location because it is impossible to remember that in such a huge desolated area but it is definitely in that region. Unfortunately there were no signs of protection (only a circle of stones around it) and it is near a popular stop for tourist trips around the Uyuni salt flat. Luckily you still have to walk a bit to find it and I was the only one interested in that plant.
Ava T-B
I think this is an ancient and probably endangered organism. I hope your map pin is actually far off from where you saw this amazing "being."
Ozbird
Thank you ver much Mark. And thank you so much Daniele for the ID and the interesting article!
Mark Ridgway
That makes a fantastic picture Pieter. Thanks for the good read Daniele.
DanielePralong
See also: http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2014/05/16/313122134/intriguing-lime-green-blobs-appear-in-the-andes-mountains-are-they-alive

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