Espeletia, commonly known as 'frailejones' ("big monks"[2]), is a genus of perennial subshrubs, in the family Asteraceae.

The trunk is thick, with succulent hairy leaves disposed in a dense spiral pattern.

[5] The frailejón plant is endangered due to destruction of the páramo for agricultural purposes, especially potato crops.

Since about 2010 the plants have also come under attack by beetle larvae, a moth and a fungus, some new to science but suspected to be related to climate change which allows lower-altitude species to flourish.

Species accepted by Plants of the World Online as of December 2022:[1] Media related to Espeletia at Wikimedia Commons