Polylepis australis, also known locally as tabaquillo or queñoa is a tree endemic of central Argentina, member of the family Rosaceae.

In harsh winters, Polylepis australis survives by producing rolls of loose, papery like exfoliating brownish bark; the rough outer covering of the woody stem of tree.

[1] Polylepis australis is native to the Sierras Pampeanas, a series of north–south-running ranges on the eastern side of the Andes in north-central Argentina, in the provinces of Catamarca, Córdoba, Jujuy, Salta, and Tucumán.

[2] The southernmost stands of Polylepis australis are located in the high Córdoba Mountains of central Argentina (1,200–2,884 m above sea level).

[3] The first results of additional studies carried out in collaboration with Isabell Hensen (University of Halle, Germany) indicate that a clear negative correlation exists between the viability of seeds of Polylepis australis and the degree of human influence on the woodland stands.