Puya chilensis Molina

Taxonomic Change:

• Type: Description (herbarium and types of Molina unknown [Stafleu & Cowan, 1981]); Chile. Región VIII: Prov. Concepción, Los Perones, acantilado frente al mar, detrás del Cerro Teta Sur, 30 m s. m., 36° 45’S, 73°11’W, 20 Nov 1975, M. Quezada 174 (neotype, here designated: CONC 45034, two sheets; photocopy of CONC specimens: FR-5364, FR-5365). —See Zizka et al. 2013 p. 396

Literature references:

BSA (Web) J. Bromeliad Soc.: 61(6): 241,270,275,288 Misc.: Fischer: Sertum Petropolitanum, seu, Icones et Descriptiones plantarum quae in Hort. Bot. Imp. Petropolitano pl.19 1846 Oliva-Esteve 2000a: 404 Rauh 1981, 1990: Farbb. 131 , Fig. 87 Seringer 2018a: 61 Smith & Downs 1974: 181* Stutzer 2023: 53,54 Weber 1984b: 95:577* Wisnev 2016: 176

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Comments:

• LOCAL NAMES. Chagual; puya; cardon; cardon negro.
  ECONOMIC USES. The leaves provide a very strong rot-resistant fiber. —See Smith & Downs 1974
• Distribution and ecology: Endemic to Chile; distributed from Central Chile, Region IV (La Serena, 30°S) to Region VIII (S of Concepción-Estación El Fuente, 37°11’S), abundant in Region IV and V (La Serena, 30°S – Valparaiso, 33°S); between sea level and 900 m. Grows in stony terrain close to the coast and in interior mountains.
  
  Conservation: Least concern (Zizka et al., 2009).
  
  Vernacular names: Cardón, Chagual, Puya. —See Zizka et al. 2013