genus Puya Molina |
(subfam. Puyoideae)Publ: Sag. Stor. Nat. Chili) 160, 351 (1782)
Sag. stor. nat. Chili: 160, 351. Oct 1782.
Type Puya chilensis Molina, Sag. stor. nat. Chili: 160, 351. Oct 1782. Currently recognized in the subfam. Pitcairnioideae. The name is derived from the native language of the indigenous Chileans. Nevertheless, Molina gave no exact indication what the name ‘puya’ means, but it is possibly simply the common name of the plant used by the indigenous Chileans.
(from Grant & Zijlstra 1998)