Yet why does it look so alien, like a green fungus flowing over the ground? It is because of the environment in which it grows. It is extremely compact so that it will lose as little heat as possible in the extremely cold evenings at this altitude. Additionally it grows as close to the ground as possible as there the temperature is a good two degrees higher than the mean air temperature of its natural ecosystem.
The yareta is so compact that when local people who used the plant occasionally for fuel for cooking had need for it they were forced to use pickaxes to remove the plant from its home. The dark and compact innards of the plant can be used to create a flammable resin. As well as being used to cook it is also commonly used to help encourage a fire to start. At least it was until recently.
The Yarata stays in leaf all year and is a perennial evergreen and its flowers, when they appear, are pink or lavender in color. The flowers are hermaphrodite and have both male and female elements meaning that, although it is pollinated by insects, Yarata is self-fertile.
As a native to the Puna grasslands of the Andes the plant has to be hardy but if you still have reservations about the veracity of its earthly origins, try not to worry about an imminent invasion of Yarata in your back yard. The plant growth rate has been estimated at about 2 centimeters per year maximum. Plus you are more than likely to be living at a low altitude in which the yareta will not grow, let alone thrive.
It is also known as the cushion plant – when it was given this common name is unknown but the reason remains self-evident.
There is one other odd thing about the Yareta. They are ancient. Many colonies of yaretas are thought to be well over three thousand years old which means they started growing before recorded history began.
Give a Gift
If you enjoyed this article, please consider making a gift to help Kuriositas to continue to bring you fascinating features, photographs and videos.
Thank you!