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Alpine tundra is a type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high elevation, with an associated harsh climate. As the latitude of a location approaches the poles, the threshold elevation for alpine tundra gets lower until it reaches sea level, and alpine tundra merges with polar tundra .
Alpine plants are plants that grow in an alpine climate, which occurs at high elevation and above the tree line. There are many different plant species and taxa that grow as a plant community in these alpine tundra. [1] These include perennial grasses, sedges, forbs, cushion plants, mosses, and lichens. [2]
An alpine tree line is the highest elevation that sustains trees; higher up it is too cold, or the snow cover lasts for too much of the year, to sustain trees. [ 2 ] : 151 The climate above the tree line of mountains is called an alpine climate , [ 14 ] : 21 and the habitat can be described as the alpine zone . [ 15 ]
About 2% of the forest features trees 8-12 meters tall, mostly in valleys in the north, east and south. Besides birch, there are some stands of rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and tea-leaved willow (Salix phylicifolia). Lake Skorradalsvatn, in western Iceland. There are 483 species of vascular plants recorded in Iceland.
Alpine grasslands and tundra lie above the tree line, in a world of intense radiation, wind, cold, snow, and ice. As a consequence, alpine vegetation is close to the ground and consists mainly of perennial grasses, sedges, and forbs. Annual plants are rare in this ecosystem and usually are only a few inches tall, with weak root systems. [36]
Alpine tundra in the North Cascades of Washington, United States. Alpine tundra does not contain trees because the climate and soils at high altitude block tree growth. [26]: 51 The cold climate of the alpine tundra is caused by the low air temperatures, and is similar to polar climate. Alpine tundra is generally better drained than arctic ...
Some typical plants on the low alpine tundra in autumn. There are many alpine plant species in this region not found anywhere else in Europe, but often in the Arctic and sometimes in mountain areas in North America. In addition to birch, the trees in this region include aspen, Scots pine, Juniperus communis, grey alder, rowan, goat willow and ...
Consisting of the arctic, alpine, and Antarctic regions, and stemming from the Samer language, tundra literally means a "high and dry place". The arctic tundra has an exceptionally short growing period, minimal sunlight, and limited resources, creating a brutal environment for plants and animals.