THE 10 MOST COMMON PLANTS OF THE PERUVIAN HIGHLANDS - BIOLOGY - 2025

Some of the most common plants from the Peruvian highlands are the ichu - Stipa ichu-, the hemlock - Conium maculatum-, the avocado -Persea americana-, the passionflower -Passiflora ligularis- or the barley -Hordeum vulgare-.

The flora of the Peruvian highlands is very varied. They occur from individual plants, to communities of these organized in grasslands, forests, bushes, among others. This allows Peru to be one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

Pata quiska

Many of the plants present in the highlands of Peru have medicinal properties, such as quinoa and avocado. Others are poisonous, like hemlock. For their part, some of these plants serve as sustenance for agricultural activities. Such is the case of grasses such as ichu and ocsa, which organize to form grasslands.

Some of the plants do not exceed 100 cm, as happens with grasses. While other species, such as the keuña, reach a height of 15 meters.

Cactaceous vegetation is also common in the Peruvian highlands, in areas where rainfall is low and the soils are stony and sandy.

The main plants of the highlands of Peru

1- The ichu

Scientific name: Stipa ichu

The ichu is a typical grass plant of the Andean zone of South America and very common in the Peruvian highlands. This plant is also known as straw or pajonal.

The ichu grasslands are of great importance for the economy, especially for agricultural activity, since this plant is used as food for livestock.

This plant can survive in various ecosystems, among which the Andean highlands stand out. Here it is very common to observe ichu grasslands that cover more than 20 million hectares.

characteristics

The ichu is between 60 cm and 2 meters tall. Among the grasses, Stipa ichu is one of the largest. It is characterized by having rigid leaves.

The plant is yellowish green when it has not yet completed its development. However, once it reaches maturity, the ichu takes on a brownish hue.

2- The hemlock

Scientific name: Conium maculatum

Hemlock is a floral herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family, which has a high poisonous content. In fact, all parts of the plant are poisonous.

In humans the ingestion of small doses of hemlock can be lethal, since it generates muscular paralysis and later respiratory arrest (causing brain death due to lack of oxygen).

In animals, hemlock can cause respiratory arrest. However, recovery is possible when the amounts ingested are not that large.

This plant can survive in nutrient-poor soils, in muddy areas, and in dry grasslands. For this reason, it is widely found in the Peruvian highlands.

characteristics

Hemlock has a height that varies between 1 m and 3 m. It has a green stem, which has red and purple spots at its base.

The leaves of the hemlock are triangular in shape and are about 50 cm long and 40 cm wide.

The flowers of this poisonous plant are white and have a dimension of 10 cm in diameter.

3- The avocado

Scientific name: Persea americana

The avocado, also known as avocado, is a typical fruit tree of South America. The fruit is used in desserts, drinks and salads.

Also, the plant has medicinal properties. The decoction of the seeds is used to disinfect wounds and to prevent the spread of snake venom in bites.

For its part, the fruit is rich in vitamin D and potassium. In addition, its consumption contributes to lower the cholesterol level.

Finally, avocado oil, which is extracted from the seed and the fruit, is used to treat skin conditions, such as psoriasis.

4- Barley

Scientific name: Hordeum vulgare

Barley is a grassy plant that produces grains similar to those of wheat.

This plant is of great importance for the economy since it is not only used as fodder for livestock, but the grains are also used for the production of beverages, such as malt and beer.

5- Quinoa

Scientific name: Chenopodium quinoa

Quinoa is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family. This plant is typical of South America.

It has leaves in the shape of triangles and flowers. All parts of this herbaceous plant are edible. It grows in communities called quinuals.

6- Chickpea

Scientific name: Astragalus garbanzillo

Chickpea is a herbaceous plant, which is part of the Papilionaceae family. It has a rough stem, serrated leaves and flowers (which can be red or white).

It is a legume plant, since it produces fruits in the form of legumes. Both the plant and the fruit have the same name.

7- Valerian

Scientific name: Valeriana pinnatifida

Valerian is a plant in the Valaerianaceae family. This plant has various medicinal properties.

The cut leaves are used as an antiseptic in burns and are also used as a poultice on fractures to reduce swelling and speed up the healing process.

For its part, the infusion based on valerian leaves is used as an antispasmodic and as a painkiller.

8- The passionflower

Scientific name: Passiflora ligularis

Passionflower is a climbing plant of the Passifloraceae family. Its fruit is the granadilla also known as tumbo. It is used in the preparation of desserts and jams.

Similarly, both the fruit and leaves of the passionflower have healing properties.

The leaves are consumed to prevent malaria. For its part, the consumption of the fruit prevents yellow fever and is also gastric protector.

9- The wild daisy

Scientific name: Bellis sylvestris

The wild daisy, also called bellorita, is a herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family. It does not exceed 15 centimeters in height. It has serrated leaves and white and yellow flowers.

It is found in areas where grass vegetation is abundant. For example, in the grasslands.

10- Pata kiska

Scientific name: Autrocylundropuntia subulata

The pata kiska, also called p'ata quiska, is a typical cactus plant of the Peruvian highlands. Its name comes from the Quechua language, where quiska means thorny.

References

1. Medicinal and magical plants in the northern Peruvian Andes. Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from samotini.it
2. Plants, Man and the Land in the Vilcanota Valley of Peru. Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from books.google.com
3. Plants and animals in Peru. Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from voyagesphotosmanu.com
4. Hemlock. Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org
5. Bellis sylvestris. Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org
6. Persea Americana. Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org
7. Avocado (Persea americana). Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from medicalhealthguide.com
8. Passion fruit. Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from antioxidant-fruits.com
9. Barley. Retrieved on August 18, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org.