Native to the high-altitude páramo and puna ecosystems of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru, Azorella aretioides is a slow-growing perennial cushion plant found in alpine zones typically between 12,000 and 16,000 feet above sea level. The species forms dense, dome-like mats that can span several feet across and reach a height of over 12 inches, with a tightly packed arrangement of small, scale-like leaves.
In bloom, the surface of the cushion is dotted with numerous tiny, bright yellow flowers. Photographed in Ecuador.