Chilean Palm Tree: The Invisible Princess

The Chilean Palm Tree is the oldest palm in the world, and the southernmost of the entire continental territory. It can live more than 800 years. 100 million years ago it arose in a tropical climate and saw the light in the Upper Cretaceous, the time of the dinosaurs. But the drift of the continents took her south. And with the rise of the An-des Mountains it was isolated, adapting to an extremely cold climate in winter. It looks like a tree, but it is actually a giant grass. Some scientists argue that only 2% of its original population remains. In the last 500 years, its exploitation, mainly for its honey, but also for its coconuts, has driven it to close to extinction.