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Yareta or llareta (in Spanish), known scientifically as Azorella compacta, (historically Azorella yareta), is a velvety, chartreuse cushion plant in the family Apiaceae which is native to South America. It grows in the Puna grasslands of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and western Argentina at altitudes between Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Kleier>Template:Cite journal</ref>

File:YaretaSurface.jpg
Distribution of flowers

The name comes from yarita in the Quechua language.

DescriptionEdit

Yareta is an evergreen perennial with a low, mat-like shape and hemispherical growth form that grows to around Template:Convert in diameter.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The self-fertile, pink or lavender flowers are hermaphroditic and are primarily pollinated by small flies, bees, wasps, and moths.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The plant prefers sandy, well-drained soils. It can grow in nutritionally poor soils that are acidic, neutral or basic (alkaline) at altitudes of up to Template:Convert.<ref name=Kleier /> Yareta is well-adapted to high insolation rates typical of the Andes highlands and cannot grow in shade. The plant's leaves grow into an extremely compact, dense mat that reduces heat and water loss.<ref name=Wickens>Template:Cite journal</ref> This mat grows near the ground where air temperature is one or two degrees Celsius higher than the mean air temperature. This temperature difference is a result of the longwave radiation re-radiated by the soil surface, which is usually dark gray to black in the Puna.<ref name=Wickens />

Yareta is estimated to grow approximately Template:Convert per year.<ref name=Kleier /> Many yaretas are estimated to be over 3,000 years old.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These oldest ones have been reported to grow as slowly as Template:Convert per year.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Its very slow growth makes the traditional practice of harvesting it for fuel highly unsustainable.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Clear left

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