ichu

Ichu, the common name for a high-altitude grass species of the Andes, refers most often to Stipa ichu (also treated as Nassella ichu). It is a perennial bunchgrass native to the puna and high páramo grasslands of South America, from Peru and Bolivia to northern Chile and western Argentina, typically at elevations between 3,200 and 4,500 meters.

The plant forms tufted clumps with slender, rolled leaves and a flowering panicle on a tall stalk. It is adapted to cold, arid, windy conditions and poor soils.

Ichu grass contributes to soil stabilization on steep slopes and terrace edges; it provides forage for camelids and other herbivores in some regions. It is a dominant component of many high-altitude grasslands and plays a role in ecosystem dynamics and fire regimes.

Indigenous and rural communities have traditionally used ichu as a roofing material and thatch, mats, rope, and other crafts. It is also cut for fodder or to cover granaries in some areas. Its extensive root system helps reduce erosion on terraces and mulch.

The species has been placed in different genera, most commonly Stipa ichu; some modern classifications place it in Nassella as Nassella ichu. The common name ichu is used in Quechua and Spanish.

While not generally listed as endangered, ichu landscapes are affected by overgrazing, land conversion, and climate change, which can reduce its distribution and ecological role.