The use of underground plant organs and habitat selection by the Puma Indians of southwestern Venezuela is described. Detailed information is presented on 18 species in 10 families. The three most significant uses identified are food, medicine and/or ritual and fish poison; the dry forest habitat contains the largest number of exploited species. The taxonomic and conservation relevance of ethnobotanical investigation in dryland macrohabitats in South America is addressed. Key Words: Pure6;Venezuelan Llanos; underground organs; dryland habitats.