ALPINE PLANTS
Tundra plants absorb warmth by growing close to the ground. They grow close to the ground to absorb the warmth that the soil receives from the sun. The trees in the tundra are mostly dwarf trees and the plants are usually cushion plants. That means they grow close to the ground. Plants in the alpine tundra include:
The purple fringe grows in rocky places. They can be found on mountains. It's flowers are clustered together and that makes it look fringed. That's where it gets it's name.
Bear grass is belongs to a lily family. It grows after a fire and is fire resistant. It needs periodic burns to grow strong. The bear grass is about 4 and a half feet long.
The polylepis forest belongs to the rose family. It has adapted by starting photosynthesis early and having little leaves that prevent water loss. The bark of the tree protects it from animals and fire danger.
The pygmy bitterroot is a plant that grows low and close to the ground. It blooms in the middle of summer and dies after it blooms. It belongs to the portulacaceae family.
The moss campion it only grows about 5 to 15 inches tall. That makes it a cushion plant. It leaves are small so it does not expose the plant to the freezing cold tundra.