Polylepis rugulosa

Polylepis rugulosa
Queñua trees on the slopes of Sajama volcano in the Bolivian Altiplano
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Polylepis
Species:	P. rugulosa
Binomial name
Polylepis rugulosa Bitter

Polylepis rugulosa, the Queñua, is a species of plant in the Rosaceae family. It is primarily found in the Andes region of South America in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. It is currently threatened by habitat loss.

This is a small tree, which is unable to grow more than 4 metres in height. It features a reddish-brown bark with brilliant compound leaves. The tree's fruit and flowers are generally unnoticeable since they are shrouded by the tree's foliage.

Images

Queñua foliage

A mature Queñua tree

Sources

• World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Polylepis rugulosa. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 August 2007.

Media related to Polylepis rugulosa at Wikimedia Commons