Look at the green 'drool monster' tree

This unique plant has an incredibly strange shape and life of up to 3,000 years.

In the Andes Mountains, thousands of years of existence existed in such a strange appearance that it may be mistaken for us to think that they do not belong to the Earth.

It is Yareta or Llareta . From the looks of it, this plant looks like a green "drool monster" in animated movies or sci-fi movies.

For the first time, few people thought that Yareta was a tree

This species is found at certain points in Chile, Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. They only grow on high terrain from 3,200 - 4,500m above sea level, so Yareta is not known to many people and becomes even more strange to explorers.

For the first time, few people thought that Yareta was a tree. They do not clearly divide the body, stem or leaves but grow densely together to form large masses like smooth, smooth stone tissue.

However, this is a collection of countless small flowering plants of the species Azorella compacta - a plant with a small flower body, in the family of Can Tho.

Many people believe that Yareta carries a very strange appearance like a giant green mold flowing on the ground. Through research, biologists believe that the reason Yareta has such a strange shape is because of its habitat.

Yareta plants must be crowded, sticking together in large numbers to keep as much heat as possible. The heat loss will cause great harm when the night temperature at this altitude can be very low.

In addition, Yareta tried to grow close to the ground to avoid heat loss, because the air temperature near the ground is usually 1-2 degrees Celsius higher than the surrounding environment.

Yareta keeps her signature green all year round and has no leaf replacement season. Plants grow flowers and these rare flower spots are usually pink or lavender. Yareta flowers are hermaphrodite flowers - they possess both the male and female genitals. This means that even without being pollinated by insects, Yareta herself is capable of 'spawning' herself.

Yareta's growth rate is very slow, averaging only 1.5 to 2 cm per year

This species has a very long life but very slow growth rate. Scientists have estimated that every year, Yareta only grows . 1.5 - 2cm. That's why many Yareta trees are counted as over 3,000 years old.

Although this plant is not officially used in the medicine industry, many studies are underway to understand Yareta's medical side effects.

Locals insist that the plant has a miraculous effect in reducing pain in rheumatoid patients. The tea made from Yareta leaves is also thought to help control blood pressure and diabetes. It is also used as a snack for people who want to lose weight.

Perhaps the slow growth factor helped Yareta live for a long time, with an individual even reaching about 3,000 years of age.

This species is often exploited by people here to use as fuel. The reason for this is because Yareta's thick 'gut' can be used to create a flammable tree.

In addition to the most common use of cooking oil, it is also used to create fire. However, in order to exploit this natural fuel source, people have to use . hoe due to its solid structure.

The number of Yareta trees is so much exploited that ecologists are worried that this unique plant will be extinct. That's why the governments of four countries where Yareta is "living" have banned the exploitation of this plant in the hope that time will help Yareta regain her inherent cover.