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Baccharis caespitosa
Native to the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, Baccharis caespitosa is a dwarf perennial shrub in the Asteraceae family, adapted to extreme alpine environments above 12,000 feet in elevation. This species forms tight, cushion-like mats or low spreading clumps that hug the ground. The foliage consists of small, thick leaves arranged densely along short stems, creating a compact surface that retains moisture and resists desiccation. The plant produces numerous minute, pale-yellow flower heads clustered closely together, each made up of tiny individual florets typical of the genus. Photographed in Peru.