Chusquea

Chusquea
Chusquea quila
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Clade: BOP clade
Subfamily: Bambusoideae
Tribe: Bambuseae
Subtribe: Chusqueinae
Genus: Chusquea
Kunth
Type species
Chusquea scandens
Synonyms[1]
  • Rettbergia Raddi
  • Platonia Kunth, 1829, rejected homonym not Mart. 1832 (Clusiaceae) nor Raf. 1808 (Verbenaceae) nor Raf. 1810 (Cistaceae)[2]
  • Dendragrostis Nees
  • Neurolepis Meisn.
  • Coliquea Steud. ex Bibra
  • Planotia Munro
  • Swallenochloa McClure

Chusquea is a genus of evergreen bamboos in the grass family. Most of them are native to mountain habitats in Latin America, from Mexico to southern Chile and Argentina.

They are sometimes referred to as South American mountain bamboos. Unlike most other grasses, the stems of these species are solid, not hollow. Some animals are, to various extents, associated with stands of Chusquea, for example the Inca wren, monito del monte, and the plushcap.