On the huge steppes around Puerto Madryn live in perfect harmony countless shrubs of different species that will fascinate both the expert and the neophyte who is making his first acquaintance with Patagonia's plant life.

Low, thorny, small-leaved, these shrubs form small thickets which grow deep roots.

These unique features are determined by the weather factors in the area. The plant species needs protection from the wind and has ability to store the scarce water available.

In the rainy season they open their fine and pretty flowers. They also store up water to use them over the months of drought.

Shutterbugs will have pleasant surprises on this pampa.

In the area surrounding Puerto Madryn, and in a major portion of Pennsula Valds, the "jarillar" is found as the predominant species. This is a bush that grows up to two m tall and is found in Argentina from Mendoza to Chubut.

There are two types of "jarillar": the "jarilla hembra" (Larrea divaricata) and the "jarilla crespa" (Larrea ntida). Both are woody bushes of analogous appearance, generally wind-blown. They grow at a distance from each other; in the between areas other undergrowth and herbaceous species grow.

The "jarilla hembra" has leaves that measure 7 to 15 mm. They are resinous and olive green in color and smooth rimmed, and the flowers are solitary. The "jarilla crespa" has resinous leaves, but with indented rims, its flowers are yellow and its fruit is round.

The original inhabitants used this plant as an anti-inflammatory drug as well as a healing agent and a hallucinogenic.

Here are found the "goat beard" (Prosopidastrum globosum), the "Brazilian briar" (Bougainvillea spinosa), the "piquilln" (Condalia microphylla), the "algarrobito" (Prosopis alpataco), the "quilembay" (Chuquiraga avellanedae), and the "molle" (Schinus johnstoni).

The last of these is a bush over 1 m high with hard, elongated single leaves and spiky thorns at the ends of the twigs. Its fruits are purple or dark blue globes. It commonly presents galls (darkish brown spheres) that are not fruit, but excrescences of the plant as a reaction to a parasitic insect.

It is often used as fuel. The Tehuelches used to make a fermented drink (similar to chicha) from the fruit. It was also used as a purge, an anti-catarrh medicine and as a balsam for fractures and hernias.

The "quilembay" is a bush that can grow to 1.5 m tall. Its leaves grow directly on the stem and are spiked. Its flowers are yellow, and so abundant that the hills are tinged with gold during December. It is an abundant species in this region.

The "piquilln" is a spiny bush with small elliptical leaves. It has yellow-green flowers without petals. Its fruit is oval and very yellow, red or black according how ripe it is.

In this area, the "algarrobito" is no bigger than 1.5 m. A salient feature of this species is that its aerial branches stem from underground branches. It has axially placed thorns that are up to 6 cm long, placed in pairs at the nodes. The bunched flowers are yellow.

The "Golden Button" is a perennial dwarf shrub (3 to 8 cm. in height). It does not get to be a woody plant. It has large, serrated dark green, resinous leaves.

It is noteworthy for its yellow flowers that form large clusters (over 5 cm diameter). This species grows all over Patagonia, especially on sandy soils. The "Brazilian briar" is a highly ramified and spiny bush about 2 m in height. It is characterized by its rigid thorns. Its leaves are small and its flowers are yellow white.

The "verbena" is a deciduous bush over 1.80 m high, but may often be found smaller than this, because it is the pasture of sheep.

It is ussualy found to grow safely in protected areas together with non-grazing plants.

It flowers in spring (from September to November). Its flowers form dense clusters at the end of the branches. Their color varies from orange to pale yellow.