16:14 | Lima, oct. 21.
A team of scientists discovered a new plant species within Manu National Park and its buffer zone. It is a type of "bromeliad from the Andes of southeastern Peru," the National Service of State-Protected Natural Areas (Sernanp) reported this Wednesday, October 21.
The new plant species, discovered by researchers from the NGO Conservación Amazónica (ACCA), has been named Puya ukumari.
It grows up to two meters tall and is notable for its very dark blue—almost black—petals. Its name, which means "bear" in Quechua, refers to the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus).
The species inhabits the Kosñipata and Mapacho valleys in Cusco, at altitudes between 2,300 and 3,300 meters. The plant has been documented in five locations: Manu National Park and its buffer zone—including the Wayqecha Biological Station and the Wayqecha Private Conservation Area (ACP)—as well as Pillahuata, the Juan Velasco Alvarado area (Sunchubamba sector), and Acobamba.
Sernanp highlighted that the presence of this plant within this protected natural area expands our understanding of Andean biodiversity and provides relevant information for its conservation.
The first flowering specimen that enabled its description was recorded in August 2025 in the community of Sunchubamba, following initial field observations conducted in 2022.
“Puya ukumari can reach two meters in height and is distinguished by petals so dark blue that they appear almost black,” explains Antony Yuca, a specialist in botany and restoration at Conservación Amazónica (ACCA) and the lead author of the research.
“We chose the name ukumari—which means ‘bear’ in Quechua—because of the ecological relationship between the Andean bear and these bromeliads. Field observations regarding the diet of these mammals also helped us guide further sightings of this species,” he added.
Ruthmery Pillco-Huarcaya, a co-author of the study and Scientific Director at ACCA’s Wayqecha Biological Station, notes that this discovery demonstrates the value of sustained observation of nature.
“Long-term monitoring allows us to recognize patterns, formulate new questions, and discover species that, while present in a territory for years, have not yet been identified by science,” she emphasizes.
The publication proposes a preliminary classification of Puya ukumari as Endangered (EN), given its limited known distribution and the threats facing its habitat—including forest degradation, livestock activities, fires, and landslides.
Finally, it was reported that the study was published on October 15, 2026, in the scientific journal PhytoKeys. It highlights the importance of maintaining field monitoring and strengthening collaboration among institutions dedicated to research and conservation, in order to identify species and generate information that contributes to protecting the biodiversity of the Andes.
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— Agencia Andina (@Agencia_Andina) October 19, 2026
(END) NDP/MAO
Publicado: 21/10/2026