Puya | |
---|---|
Puya × berteroniana | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Bromeliaceae |
Subfamily: | Puyoideae Givnish |
Genus: | Puya Molina |
Type species | |
Puya chilensis | |
Species | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
Pourretia Ruiz & Pav. 1794 |
Puya is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. It is the sole genus of the subfamily Puyoideae, and is composed of 226 species.[1][2] These terrestrial plants are native to the Andes Mountains of South America and southern Central America. Many of the species are monocarpic, with the parent plant dying after one flower and seed production event.
The species Puya raimondii is notable as the largest species of bromeliad known, reaching 3 m tall in vegetative growth with a flower spike 9–10 m tall. The other species are also large, with the flower spikes mostly reaching 1–4 m tall.
The name Puya was derived from the Mapuche Indian word meaning "point".