See text Polylepis is a genus comprising 28 recognised shrub and tree species,[1] that are endemic to the mid- and high-elevation regions of the tropical Andes.

The foliage is evergreen, with dense small leaves, and often having large amounts of dead twigs hanging down from the underside of the canopy.

The name Polylepis is, in fact, derived from the Greek words poly (many) plus letis (layers), referring to the shredding, multi-layered bark that is common to all species of the genus.

[5] There are several characteristics that are important taxonomically to distinguish between species of Polylepis, for example: 1) The amount of leaf congestion, 2) presence or absence of spurs and their size and vestiture, 3) presence or absence and type of trichomes, (4) size, shape, thickness and vestiture of leaflets.

Accepted species include:[6] Tree species in the genus Polylepis are confined to the high tropical South American Andes Mountains, with the most abundant concentrations of Polylepis ranging from northern Venezuela to northern Chile and adjacent Argentina.

[2] These low altitude species are mixed with montane forest which indicates that components of the genus could have been present in western South America during the Miocene Period or even earlier.

Polylepis racemosa grows as shrubby trees on steep, rocky slopes above cloud forest.

[2] Due to the harsh environment in which many species of Polylepis grow, the growth of the tree's stems and branches are generally contorted.

The crowding of the leaves results in a pattern of stacked, inverted cones due to the overlapping of the stipule sheaths.

These include: the absence of petals, green rather than colored sepals, an absence of scent or nectar, numerous anthers with long filaments, abundant, dry pollen, a large, spreading, fine fringed stigma, compounded pinnate leaves and the growth of trees in strands.

[8] Wind pollination allows genetic information to cover large distances and hurdle reproductive barriers.

[8] The fruits of all species must be wind dispersed because members of the genus are trees and are thus too tall for animals (presumably mammals) to brush against on the ground.

Carl Troll, for example, considered Polylepis to be a distinct type of vegetation and he claimed one of the reasons for their survival is the presence of microclimatic phenomena such as the formation of cloud layers on slopes and along low drainage areas, prevented nighttime freezes and producing what he called "lower elevation" conditions.

[10] Polylepis forests exist primarily as small, widely isolated fragments, which are being rapidly depleted by rural communities.

Remaining Polylepis forests are used for firewood and building material and provide protection against erosion and habitats for endangered animals.

Since Polylepis inhabits extremely high elevations, it has played an important role in the culture of various Andean Indigenous groups by providing building material and firewood.

As a result of people expanding their reach, Polylepis have been subjected to harvest for firewood, the clearing of woodlands for pastureland and the destruction of seedlings by domesticated animals.