The Queen of the Andes plant waits 100 years to bloom just once, and then it dies immediately.

The Puya raimondii is the world's largest bromeliad, a relative of the pineapple. It lives high up in the Andes mountains of Peru and Bolivia at altitudes of nearly 15,000 feet. Because the air is so cold and thin there, the plant grows very slowly, taking 80 to 100 years to reach its full size.When it finally matures, it grows a giant stalk called an inflorescence. This stalk can hold 8,000 to 30,000 creamy-white flowers. This massive effort uses up all the plant's energy. Since it is 'monocarpic,' it can only flower one time in its entire life. Once the flowers are pollinated and the seeds drop, the plant dies.French scientist Alcide d'Orbigny first told the world about this plant in 1830. Today, it is considered endangered. Climate change is making its home too dry, and local cattle sometimes eat the young plants. Groups like the Huascarán National Park are now working hard to protect these 100-year-old giants so they don't disappear forever.