These rocks on the highlands of the Andes looks like they are covered with moss.
The plant keeps close to the ground to retain as much heat in as possible.
To prevents moisture loss through evaporation the Yareta has wax covered leaves.
A large blob of Yareta growing on the rocks can thus be thousands of years old.
Many Yaretas are estimated to be over 3,000 years old.
The amount of yareta being removed had become so significant that it threatened the very existence of the plant.
Sources:Wikipedia/Scribol/Colca Canyon - Biodiversity
