Planetagarden
- Can plants grow in the tundra?
- What kind of plants grow in the tundra?
- Can you farm in the tundra?
- Why is it difficult for plants to grow in the tundra?
Can plants grow in the tundra?
Approximately 1,700 species of plants live on the Arctic tundra, including flowering plants, dwarf shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses, and lichens. The tundra is characterized by permafrost, a layer of soil and partially decomposed organic matter that is frozen year-round.
What kind of plants grow in the tundra?
Various Tundra Plants
- Bearberry (Arctostaphylos)
- Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum)
- Diamond Leaf Willow (Salix planifolia)
- Arctic Moss (Calliergongiganteum)
- Arctic Willow (Salix arctica)
- Caribou Moss or Reindeer moss (Cladonia rangiferina)
- Tufted Saxifrage (Saxifraga cespitosa)
- Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla)
Can you farm in the tundra?
The frozen tundra of the Arctic is experiencing something of an agriculture boom. Photography A field of barley grows in the shadows of an Alaskan mountain range.
Why is it difficult for plants to grow in the tundra?
Trees can't grow on the tundra because of the strong winds, the short growing season, and permafrost. The structure of vegetation is relatively simple and the soil is poor in nutrients. Underneath the soil is permafrost, which is a hard frozen layer of dirt and rocks. This also makes it difficult for plants to grow.
