Tundra Plants

Tundra Plants

All are adapted to sweeping winds & disturbances of the soil. Plants are short & group together to resist the cold temperature & are protected by the snow during winter. They carry out photosynthesis at low temperatures & low light intensities. Growing seasons are short & mostly plants reproduce by budding & division rather than sexually by flowering.

Vegetation or plants are in abundance in the tundra. Some of the major ones are the lichen which grows on rocks and is made of fungus and algae living and growing together. Other types are the dwarf willow that are small tundra shrubs and the cushion plants that grow in low, tight clumps to protect them from the cold.

Plants in the tundra biome have many adaptations such as being small and able to grow close to the ground to protect from the cold and harsh temperatures. Also they absorb more heat from the sunshine than they get from other plants.

Many of the animals in the tundra biome are mostly vegetarians. This helps the animals to get more food with there being so many plants.

Plant types & Adaptations

Perennial forbs- spend winter in dormant stage lies down to the ground level or disappears completely.

Woody shrubs- dwarfed short in structure

Heath- contains many species with hard evergreen leaves able to withstand drying winds & cold temperatures.

On the tundra the shape of the plant serves to protect the fragile growth bud from cold winds.

The number of plant species on the tundra is few, and their growth is low, with most of the biomass concentrated in the roots. The growing season is short, and plants are more likely to reproduce vegetation by division and building than sexually by flower pollination.

Typical arctic vegetation comprises cotton grass, sedge, and dwarf heath, together with associated mosses and lichens. These plant communities are adapted to sweeping winds and to soil disturbance from frost heaves. They carry on photosynthesis at low temperatures, low light intensities, and long periods of daylight. Alpine plant communities consist of mat-making and cushion-forming plants. These plants are rare in the Arctic. These plants are adapted to gusting winds, heavy snows, and widely ranging temperatures. They carry on photosynthesis under brilliant light in short periods of daylight.

Cushion Plants Many tundra plants, such as this one, are called cushion plants which means they grow in a low, tight clump and look like a little cushion. Cushion plants are more common in the tundra where their growth habit helps protect them from the cold.

Dark Red Many plants, such as this one, have leaves that are dark red. Dark leaves allow the plant to absorb more heat from the sun in the cold tundra climate.

Cotton Grass has seeds that are spread out across the tundra when their wings are caught by the wind.