Editing Tundra (section)

== Alpine ==
{{anchor|Alpine tundra}}
{{main|Alpine tundra}}

[[File:Sahale Peak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Alpine tundra in the [[North Cascades]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States]]
Alpine tundra does not contain trees because the climate and soils at high altitude block tree growth.<ref>{{cite book |first=D.L. |last=Elliott-Fisk |chapter=The Taiga and Boreal Forest |editor1-first=M.G. |editor1-last=Barbour |editor2-first=M.D. |editor2-last=Billings |edition=2nd |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-521-55986-7 |title=North American Terrestrial Vegetation}}</ref>{{rp|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 soils.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/tundra.php |title=The tundra biome |publisher=[[University of California Museum of Paleontology]] |access-date=11 September 2020}}</ref> Alpine tundra transitions to [[subalpine forest]]s below the tree line; stunted forests occurring at the forest-tundra [[ecotone]] (the [[treeline]]) are known as ''[[Krummholz]]''. Alpine tundra can be affected by [[woody plant encroachment]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Marsman |first1=Floor |last2=Nystuen |first2=Kristin O. |last3=Opedal |first3=Øystein H. |last4=Foest |first4=Jessie J. |last5=Sørensen |first5=Mia Vedel |last6=De Frenne |first6=Pieter |last7=Graae |first7=Bente Jessen |last8=Limpens |first8=Juul |date=January 2021 |editor-last=Pugnaire |editor-first=Francisco |title=Determinants of tree seedling establishment in alpine tundra |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvs.12948 |journal=Journal of Vegetation Science |language=en |volume=32 |issue=1 |doi=10.1111/jvs.12948 |bibcode=2021JVegS..32E2948M |issn=1100-9233|hdl=11250/2733966 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Alpine tundra occurs in mountains worldwide. The flora of the alpine tundra is characterized by plants that grow close to the ground, including [[perennial grass]]es, [[Cyperaceae|sedges]], [[forb]]s, [[cushion plant]]s, [[moss]]es, and [[lichen]]s.<ref name="functional">{{Cite book |first=Christian |last=Körner |title=Alpine Plant Life: Functional Plant Ecology of High Mountain Ecosystems |place=Berlin |publisher=Springer |year=2003 |isbn=978-3-540-00347-2}}</ref> The flora is adapted to the harsh conditions of the alpine environment, which include low temperatures, dryness, ultraviolet radiation, and a short growing season.