It feels odd to be writing another post about plants, but the local species here in Ancash have been impressing us mightily. Fear not, we’ll return to mountain ramblings soon!
Cycling from Huallanca to Catac in July we pedalled past the clump of Puya Raimondiis near Carpa. This incredible plant is (according to Wikipedia) the largest bromeliad in the world, with a gigantic inflorescence that can reach 10m tall, with more than 3 thousand flowers and 6 million seeds.
We took an hour’s rest from our cycle to get a close-up look at the species.
I’m liking the plant posts. Somehow I haven’t seem these creatures yet – or at least not up close.
They’re a rare breed! Only a couple of spots in the Negra and another couple in the Blanca where the conditions are to their liking.
Plants are good to a point, but the nevados always win long-term!
Hi,
I would like to see Puya raimondii in Peru. Could you give exact location, please?
Thank you so much!
Hi Felix,
They’re in Quebrada Pumapampa (just south of Catac), 5km east of the Carpa checkpost (for Parque Nacional Huascaran).
Hope you make it there!
Neil