Chuquiraga | |
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Chuquiraga jussieui | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Subfamily: | Barnadesioideae |
Tribe: | Barnadesieae |
Genus: | Chuquiraga Juss. |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Chuquiraga is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.[2][3][4] The genus is distributed in the Andes from Colombia to Chile, with most species occurring in Patagonia.[3]
These are evergreen shrubs. They have many shapes and sizes of leaves, and two general types of flowers apparently adapted for pollination by hummingbirds and insects.[5] Some species occur at elevations over 4000 meters in the Andes, while others can be found at sea level.[6]
Many are of ecological importance because they are dominant plant species in very dry habitat types, and local animals depend on them.[7] Hummingbirds of the genus Oreotrochilus, the hillstars, rely heavily on these plants, and some species have never been observed on any other plant taxa.[8]
Some species have been used as fuel, as traditional medicines, and as ornamental plants.[7]