The puya raimondii flower spike is often 9-10m high and contains more than 3,000 flowers and 6,000,000 seeds. The flowers provide a huge supply of nectar for hummingbirds (plus other bird species and insects) as well as a warm place for them to sleep during the icy Andean nights. The Andean hillstar is found from Ecuador south to northern Argentina and Chile at altitudes between 3400-4600m. It reduces its metabolic rate dramatically (as if hibernating) to survive the bitter winter nights at high altitude. Local names: picaflor serrano grande, picaflor de la puna.