Mountain plants
Most plants need sunshine and warmth. On the low warm slopes of a mountain, you can see colourful flowers and trees. But on the icy peaks, there may be only a few tiny plants sheltering in rocky crags.
Most trees cannot grow high up in the mountains, but pine trees can.
You will never see a tree growing on the top of a mountain – it is too windy and cold there! However, hardy, coniferous trees such as spruce fir and pine trees can survive the freezing weather of the higher slopes. Their tough bark protects them from the cold and falling snow does not break their branches.
High up a mountain only small plant can survive.
Plants adapt to the harsh mountain conditions. Strong roots and short stems stop the fierce winds blowing them away. Small mosses cling closely to the rocks. Many plants also have small hairs to protect them from the cold.
As you move up a mountain slope you will find different trees and plants.
In the warm foothills, thick forests of broad-leaved trees soak up the sunshine. Further up, shrubs, grasses and trees grow and above this colder meadow of small plants and grasses are found. Fir trees grow further up the mountain. But beyond this there are hardly and plants in the icy peak.
Picture Credit : Google
