Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 7.11
(A) Insect-pollinated globeflowers (
Trollius laxus
) and marsh marigolds (
Caltha
leptosepala
) (photo by K. S. Hadley). (B) Alpine cushion plants alpine forget-me-nots (
Eritrichium
aretioides
) and alpine phlox (
Phlox sibirica
) (photo by K. S. Hadley). (C) Glacier lily (
Erythmnium
grandiflorum)
) growing through a late snowbank (photo by L. W. Price).
Under favorable microhabitat conditions, some vascular plants will grow above the
lower boundary of the permanent snow zone. This generally occurs on rocky peaks
where small crevices have collected sufficient fine materials to allow root growth (Fig.
7.11b). Miniature snow beds on these blocky surfaces protect these dwarfed plants dur-
ing winter and provide a source of moisture the following summer. By taking advant-
age of such microhabitats, such snow-cranny plants reach exceptionally high elevations.
Examples of these high-elevation plants include the miniature buttercups
Ranunculus
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