In the north of Russia, from Chukotka to the Kola Peninsula, the tundra zone extends. It goes in a continuous strip and occupies neither more nor less - 14% of Russian territory. This area has very harsh climatic conditions. Winter here lasts up to 8 months, and the remaining time falls on a cool and short summer. And in July (the hottest month) is only +10 degrees. Here, no one is surprised by frosts or snow that fell in the middle of summer. And in these harsh conditions, plants and animals of the tundra manage to survive.

Almost throughout the vast territory of the tundra, permafrost is common. And the soil in these places thaws only in summer, and then to a shallow depth - 1.5-2 meters maximum, and often even less. And below this depth lies permanently frozen ground. And this permafrost has a strong influence on plants in the tundra. Moreover, this influence is by no means positive. After all, such a close occurrence of the soil bound by ice does not allow the roots to grow in depth. They are forced to be content only. Also, permafrost does not allow moisture to seep down. And this contributes to the formation of swamps.

Tundra plants are also forced to adapt to a special light regime - the polar day. Here the sun rises low in summer, but it shines around the clock. And thanks to this, local plants manage to get quite enough light during the short growing season, at least not by much. fewer plants middle latitudes. in the tundra is also higher, due to the purity and transparency of the atmosphere of this zone. And local plants have perfectly adapted to such a long day and are developing well.

Thus, in the tundra, the top layer of soil is the most favorable for life. There is also enough heat here and in the lowest layer of air, which is adjacent to the earth itself. And these two layers can measure only a few centimeters. Therefore, one should not be surprised that many tundra plants are not tall and are literally flattened on the ground. And their root systems grow mainly horizontally, almost without deepening. And in these latitudes, many plants grow, the leaves of which are collected in a rosette, as well as all sorts of creeping shrubs and shrubs. They simply “learned” to use the heat that is near the ground with maximum benefit, and at the same time fight against strong local winds.

And the main plants of the tundra are mosses and lichens. There are quite a lot of them here, and they often cover huge spaces with a continuous carpet. Most of of these mosses and lichens is connected not only with the tundra. For example, such green mosses as chylocomium, pleurocium, or lichens of the type are also found in forests. But there are also species of these plants that can only be found in the tundra. All of them perfectly tolerate. These plants can winter both under snow cover and without it.

But the vegetation cover of the tundra is not so monotonous. In some places, the carpet of moss and lichen is diluted. In other places, shrubs grow mainly - alpine bearberry, partridge grass, blueberries, speedwells. And closer to the forest-tundra zone there are shrub thickets, consisting of low birches and willows. Also, closer to the forests and in the river valleys, the permafrost layer is a little deeper. The winds in these places are also not so severe. And here you can find trees such as larch and birch. But these tundra plants have a very miserable appearance, their height is no more than 6 meters.

And in summer period in the tundra a short time bloom various flowers, such as forget-me-nots, polar poppies, bluebells, dandelions, buttercups, saxifrage and others. The plants growing here are mostly evergreen and perennial. They no longer need to waste precious time every year on growth and development, as well as on forcing foliage. But they grow slowly, gaining a few millimeters per year. Also, closer to autumn, various berries ripen here, such as cloudberries, princesses, lingonberries, cranberries and blueberries.

The natural zone of the tundra occupies about 5-7% of the planet's land. The climate of the zone is characterized by the absence warm summer. In this climate, it lasts only a few weeks, and the average air temperature reaches 15⁰С. Low temperatures cause the accumulation of moisture and this leads to the formation of marshy areas in the territory. In the tundra zone, the species composition of animals is small, but it is distinguished by a large number. The flora of the tundra requires special attention. It is rich in variety and beautiful. We suggest you familiarize yourself with the list of the most distinctive plants accustomed to this climate.

Characteristic plants of the tundra

Heather

Shrub with unusually beautiful inflorescences. It is the national flower of Norway. The plant is saturated with persistent tasty aroma. On a large number of leaves are small flowers of various colors. The plant has a variety of species. The plant grows well in semi-shady places with small shrubs.

partridge grass

The small flowering plant is often called "dryad" after the ancient Greek forest goddess nymph. Large snow-white flowers fell in love with people, so they are often planted in gardens. In addition, wild partridges and geese include the plant in their winter diet. The plant has dense specific leaves, in winter they remain green.

sedges

The plant loves moisture and cold temperatures. AT wild nature sedges are very useful. The plant is considered a classic and is used to surviving in a variety of climates. In the tundra animals eat sedge all year round, especially in winter. Sedge lovers are deer, elk, rodents and muskrats. The stem is shaped so that it is easy for a person to cut themselves.

Blueberry

A popular plant, distinguished by a blue tint of foliage. The fruits are similar to blueberries, located between the small oval foliage of the plant. Blueberries are among the most common tundra plants. There are several types of bushes of this plant.

crowberry

evergreen shrub with medicinal properties. The branches of the plant are similar to spruce and are well distinguishable from many other types of plants. In the middle of summer on the bush appear brightly pink inflorescences. After flowering, the plant produces round black berries. Tundra hunters often quench their thirst with juicy crowberry berries, hence the name. Because of its popularity, the plant has many names - magician, purple, etc.

Reindeer moss

Highly important plant for tundra animals winter period. It is also called “reindeer moss”, because during the nine months of cold weather, deer consume reindeer moss every day. The plant makes up 90% of the reindeer's winter diet. Animals find it by smell even under a thick layer of snow. Yagel belongs to lichens, it is considered the largest and can reach a height of 15 cm.

Cloudberry

This herbaceous plant belongs to the raspberry genus. It is seasonal, because during the cold season top part cloudberries dies and only the root remains. Only by spring does a stem grow, on which leaves and flowers will grow. The yellow-orange berries of the plant taste different from raspberries, like its fruit itself. Cloudberry is a dioecious plant. This means that some plants bear male flowers, from which there are no fruits, and the second - only female ones, from which berries appear.

Willow Shaggy

Each leaf and branch of the shrub is covered with thick hairs, they protect the willow from cold and frost. Reindeer wait a very long time for fresh leaves to appear on the bush. They are happy to eat them, they are very useful for the health of animals. During the day, the reindeer can eat up to 7-10 kg of the leaves of this shrub.

wild rosemary

A beautiful plant with many medium sized flowers. The plant itself in the tundra climate can reach 1.5 meters. The stem is covered with villi that protect the wild rosemary from severe cold. Flowers exude a bright and sugary aroma. It should not be inhaled for a long time, as this can cause headache or dizziness. For the same reasons, tundra animals do not eat the plant, because it contains a large number of essential oils and toxic substances.

Highlander viviparous

A small herbaceous plant with narrow oblong leaves. On a long stem are small pink or white flowers. Highlander viviparous has an edible root, they can be consumed raw or boiled.

Conclusion

Each tundra plant has adapted in its own way to the harsh climate of the region. Most plants are eaten by animals winter time only some of them are an effective source of beneficial trace elements for reindeer, lemmings and many other inhabitants of the tundra.

With the arrival of spring, when the first warm sunbeams help the tundra shed its winter clothes for a short time, the area turns into a bright colorful carpet. On the hillocks, the first flowers of saxifrage, arthropod, ice severia appear, and sedge and cottongrass bloom in the marshes. Behind these first-born of the polar spring, the Kamchatka rhododendron flourishes magnificently. The buds that have swollen since last year are in a hurry to turn into buds and bloom. Many plants gain strength all summer, but as soon as the flowers appear, the first snow sprinkles them, preventing the seeds from ripening. They will ripen only by next spring.

In autumn, strong mushrooms appear that do not know rot in these places - boletus. Here they are called overbirch trees. Often they are taller than the trees near which they grow.

In river valleys and on slopes protected from the wind, dwarf birch, polar willow, northern alder grow, which are easy to confuse with grass. Their height does not exceed 30 - 50 cm. The tundra is rich in lingonberries, blueberries and junipers. In winter, shrubs are covered with snow, which protects them from frostbite.

Polar willow.

Those who believe that the tundra is lifeless are wrong. No, she is beautiful and cheerful in her own way.

Let's get acquainted in more detail with the flora of our tundra.
A typical tundra is a treeless expanse with a low and not always continuous vegetation cover. It is based on mosses and lichens, against which undersized flowering plants- shrubs, shrubs, herbs. There are no trees in the real tundra - the living conditions here are too harsh for them. For a short and cold summer, young shoots do not have time to fully form protective layer integumentary tissue necessary for normal overwintering (without such a layer, young branches die in winter from water loss). snow.
Another circumstance is also important - the low temperature of the tundra soil in summer, which does not allow the roots to make up for the large losses of water by the aerial part of the tree during evaporation (the so-called physiological dryness of tundra soils).

Only in the very south of the tundra zone, in more favorable climatic conditions, can individual trees be found. They grow against the background of characteristic tundra vegetation and stand quite far from each other, forming the so-called forest tundra.
Mosses and lichens play a very important role in the vegetation cover of the tundra. There are many types of them here, and they often form a continuous carpet over vast spaces.
Most of the mosses and lichens found in the tundra are not associated in their distribution exclusively with the tundra zone. They can also be found in forests. Such, for example, are many green mosses (pleurotium, chylocomium, cuckoo flax), lichens from the genus Klyadonia (this includes deer moss and other species related to it and similar to it). However, there are also specific tundra species of mosses and lichens.
Both mosses and lichens perfectly tolerate the harsh conditions of the tundra. These undersized undemanding plants can winter under the protection of even a thin snow cover, and sometimes without it at all. The soil layer as a source of water and nutrients for mosses and lichens is almost not needed - they get everything they need mainly from the atmosphere. They do not have true roots, but develop only thin filamentous processes, the main purpose of which is to attach plants to the soil. Finally, mosses and lichens, due to their short stature, make the best use of the surface, warmest layer of air in summer.
The bulk of flowering plants in the tundra are shrubs, dwarf shrubs and perennial herbs. Shrubs differ from shrubs only in smaller sizes - they are almost the same height as small grasses. But nevertheless, their branches are woody, covered on the outside thin layer protective cork tissue and carry overwintering buds. It is rather difficult to draw a clear line between shrubs and shrubs.
On flat expanses of the tundra, where the snow cover is shallow, both bushes and shrubs are low, they do not rise above the snow. Among these plants we find some dwarf species of willows (for example, grassy willow), rosemary, blueberry, crowberry, dwarf birch. It often happens that shrubs and shrubs are located in the thickness of a powerful moss-lichen cover, almost not rising above it. These plants seem to seek protection from mosses and lichens (in the forest, the situation is completely different). Some of the shrubs and dwarf shrubs are evergreen (crowberry, lingonberry, wild rosemary), others shed their leaves for the winter (various willows, dwarf birch, blueberries, arctous, etc.).
A person who first came to the tundra is especially surprised by dwarf willows. Some of them are extremely small, have creeping shoots spread among the moss carpet, and are very reminiscent of some small herbaceous plants. Only after looking closely, you notice real willow earrings in such “herbs”, though very small and short. The leaves of dwarf willows are also unusually small, unusual for us.
Almost all herbaceous plants of the tundra are perennial. There are very few annual herbs. This is explained by the fact that summers are too short and cold in the tundra. In a few cool summer weeks it is difficult to go through a full life cycle- from seed germination to the formation of new seeds. This requires very rapid rates of development under conditions of low temperature.
There are almost no plants in the tundra that develop succulent underground organs - tubers and bulbs. The late thawing soil of the tundra with permafrost is unfavorable for the growth of such plants.
Perennial herbaceous plants of the tundra are characterized by short stature. Among them there are some grasses (squat fescue, alpine meadow grass, arctic bluegrass, alpine foxtail, etc.) and sedges (for example, hard sedge). There are also a few legumes (umbrella astragalus, obscure kopeechnik, dirty hollywort). However, most of the species belong to the so-called forbs - representatives of various families dicot plants. From this group of plants, one can name the viviparous mountaineer, Eder's mytnik, bathing suits - European and Asian, rosea rhodiola, alpine vasilist, forest and white-flowered geraniums. Feature tundra herbs - large, brightly colored flowers. Their color is the most diverse - white, yellow, crimson, orange, blue, etc. When the tundra blooms, it looks like a motley colorful carpet. The tundra usually blooms immediately, suddenly - after the first warm days come. And many plants bloom at the same time. Due to the fact that the warm period is short, the flowering time various plants almost matches. There is no clear order of flowering of different species, which happens, for example, in a meadow or in a forest.
Winter comes in the tundra quickly and suddenly, the soil is immediately shackled by frost, and the plants freeze. Summer ends abruptly. The arrival of winter finds the plants in a state active life. After the first winter frosts, many of them stand with frozen but alive leaves, with swollen flower buds, with half-ripe or almost ripe fruits.
The Arctic summer is short and deceptive. In some years, tundra plants do not have time to produce mature seeds. Some of them, under these conditions, have developed the ability to live birth: bulbs or nodules develop in inflorescences instead of flowers, capable of giving rise to a new plant during germination. Such a phenomenon can be observed, for example, in a viviparous mountaineer.
Many representatives of the tundra flora have adaptations aimed at reducing evaporation in summer time. The leaves of tundra plants are often small, and therefore the evaporating surface is small. The underside of the leaves, where the stomata are located, is often covered with dense pubescence, which prevents too much air movement near the stomata and, therefore, reduces water loss. In some plants, the edges of the leaves are wrapped down and the leaf itself looks like an incompletely closed tube. The stomata located on the underside of such a leaf are inside the tube, which also leads to a decrease in evaporation.
Adaptations to reduce water loss are essential for tundra plants. In summer, the cold soil of the tundra makes it very difficult for plant roots to absorb water, while the above-ground organs, located in the warm surface layer of air, have all the conditions for vigorous evaporation.

The vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra, its forms, methods of plant reproduction, and adaptability to survival largely depend on the features that characterize these zones.

Geographical position

The location of the tundra zone falls on the Earth. On the mainland of Eurasia, it stretches along the entire coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean for tens of thousands of kilometers. north coast mainland North America also occupied by tundra. The length of the zone from north to south is on average about 500 kilometers. In addition, the tundra occupies some islands near Antarctica. In the mountains, where altitudinal zonality is expressed, mountain tundras are formed. Considering all the territories where the zone is located, its total area on the planet. It is about 3 million km2.

The forest tundra is the area where small areas tundra vegetation and taiga vegetation. The forest-tundra stretches from west to east south of the tundra on the continents of Eurasia and North America. The length of the strip from north to south ranges from 30 to 400 kilometers. On its southern borders, the forest-tundra passes into the forest zone.

Climatic conditions affecting plant growth

The climate of the tundra and forest-tundra zone is very severe. Winter lasts 6 to 8 months a year. During all this time, a constant snow cover is kept, the air temperature sometimes drops to 50 degrees below zero. The polar night lasts about two months. Strong cold winds and snow storms almost never subside.

Summer in the tundra is short and cool. Frosts and snowfall are possible. Despite the surface of the earth does not receive a large amount of heat, since the sun does not rise high above the horizon and sends scattered rays to the Earth. To survive in such conditions, the vegetation of the tundra must adapt.

Influence of permafrost on the species composition of vegetation

In the warm season, in the tundra zone, the soil thaws only to a depth of no more than 50 centimeters. Next comes the layer of permafrost. This factor is one of the decisive factors in the distribution of plants in the tundra zone. The same factor affects their species diversity.

Permafrost has a significant impact on the terrain. Freezing and thawing of rocks leads to their deformation. As a result of the heaving process, surface forms such as bumps appear. Their height is no more than two meters above sea level, but the appearance of such forms also affects the vegetation of the tundra, its settlement in a certain area.

Influence of soil on the species diversity of vegetation

In the tundra and forest-tundra zone, a high temperature is observed. It is especially noticeable during the period of snow melting. Water cannot penetrate deeper due to the presence of permafrost. Its evaporation is also not very intense due to the low air temperature. For these reasons melt water and precipitation accumulates on the surface, forming large and small swamps.

High swampiness, presence of permafrost, predominance low temperatures hinder the flow of chemical and biological processes in the soil. It contains little humus, ferrous oxide accumulates. Tundra-gley soils are suitable for the growth of only certain plant species. But the vegetation of the tundra adapts to such living conditions. A person who has visited these parts during the flowering period of plants has indelible impressions for many years - the flowering tundra is so beautiful and attractive!

In the forest-tundra, the natural fertile soil layer is also thin. The soil is poor nutrients, it is characterized by high acidity. When cultivating lands, a large amount of mineral and organic fertilizers. In the cultivated areas of the forest-tundra, there are more diverse types of herbaceous vegetation, trees and shrubs.

Types

The vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra also largely depends on the type. Their landscapes seem monotonous only at first glance.

The hummocky and hilly tundra occupy the largest territories. Among the swamps, plant turf forms mounds and tussocks, on which many plant species take root. A special type of tundra is polygonal. Here you can observe in the form of large polygons, which are broken by depressions and frost cracks.

There are other approaches to the classification of such a natural area as the tundra. What kind of vegetation prevails in a certain area, this will be the type of tundra. For example, the moss-lichen tundra is made up of areas covered with different types mosses and lichens. There are also shrub tundras, where thickets of polar willow, elfin cedar, and bushy alder are common.

Plants

As mentioned earlier, the vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra had to adapt to the harsh climatic conditions of the subarctic zone of the Earth. Otherwise, her life and development would be impossible here.

The adaptability of tundra and forest-tundra plants is expressed as follows. Most representatives of the fauna are perennials. annual plants with a short duration of summer, they would not be able to complete their life cycle. Only a small part of plants reproduces by seeds. The main way to prolong life is vegetative.

The short stature of tundra plants allows them to survive during strong winds. This is also facilitated by the creeping nature of the shoots and their ability to intertwine with each other, forming a semblance of a soft pillow. In winter, all parts of the plants are covered with snow. It saves them from severe frosts. Most tundra and forest tundra plants have a wax coating on their leaves, which contributes to moderate evaporation of moisture from their surface.

The vegetation of the tundra, photographs of individual species of which are available in the article, is represented by perennial frost-resistant species prevailing in lowlands and swamps, buttercup, cotton grass, dandelion, and poppy. Grow from trees dwarf birch, bushy alder. These tree species in the forest-tundra, they can already reach a height of three or more meters. Blueberries, cloudberries, bilberries, lingonberries are widespread among shrubs. Mosses and lichens take root on the uplands, many of which are the main type of food for the animals living in these places.

Forest tundra and taiga

The vegetation of the tundra and taiga is very different from each other. The forest tundra is a transition zone between them. On the territory of the forest-tundra, among the treeless space, one can find islands of spruce, birch, larch and other tree species.

The forest-tundra zone is unique, since tundra and taiga vegetation are found on its territory, which becomes more noticeable as you move south. Forest plots, consisting of individual species of trees and shrubs, create the most favorable conditions for the growth of herbaceous vegetation. Thanks to trees and shrubs, wind speed decreases, delays large quantity snow that covers the plants, saving them from freezing.

Study of the vegetation of the subarctic belt

The vegetation cover of the tundra and forest-tundra has not yet been fully studied. A systematic scientific description of the species growing here began only in the middle of the last century.

To continue this work, special expeditions are being created today. In the course of them, scientists are also trying to establish how the vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra is influenced by animals living in these zones. They want answers to questions about whether plant species diversity changes in areas protected from the presence of certain animal species, how long it takes for full recovery destroyed vegetation cover. So far, scientists have not found answers to all questions related to natural balance in the zone of the subarctic belt of the planet.

Fauna protection

The nature of the tundra and forest-tundra is very vulnerable. It takes more than a dozen years, and in some cases centuries, to restore the soil layer, the vegetation cover.
Man has long understood that it is he who has a detrimental effect on the nature of the tundra and forest-tundra. Trying to redeem themselves, people have created whole line reserves, national parks, reserves. They are located both on the territory of Russia and other countries of the world.