Baccharis latifolia

Native to the Andes from Venezuela to northwestern Argentina, this perennial shrub or small tree usually grows about 5 to 10 feet tall. In Colombia, it occurs between about 4,600 and 13,100 feet. Dense branching clusters contain separate male and female flower heads on different plants. After flowering, tiny fruits develop tufts of fine hairs that help them disperse on the wind. It is used in Colombian restoration projects to recover disturbed ground and eroded soils. Its branches are also used to produce dyes. Photographed in Puracé National Park, Colombia.