What plants, shrubs and animals are there on the snowy mountain?

Geomorphology often refers to mountains above 3000 meters above sea level as alpine zones, while phytogeography likes to use tree lines as the starting point of mountains. Because with the elevation of the mountain, the temperature is decreasing, and at a certain altitude, trees can't get up strictly; Going up again, the wind is strong and cold, and it is difficult for trees to survive. Therefore, the highest altitude at which trees can survive in a certain mountain area is usually taken as the tree line. Above this height, only herbs and at most some shrubs can survive; Above 5000 meters above sea level, even herbs are extremely scarce. In areas with perennial snow, there are no plants at all, and some stones can only see lichens at most.

The cold climate is harsh, and the windy and snowy weather is like a routine; Moreover, the temperature is low, and the temperature difference between day and night varies greatly, often below zero at night, but it can rise to 30℃ during the day, and some areas are still short of water. How do plants survive under such conditions? However, it is in this harsh environment that alpine plants have developed various unique survival skills after years of adaptation, and their ability to survive in adversity is amazing!

If you climb to the high mountain area of a mountain, you will find plants there. If shrubs are bound to be short and overgrown, so are herbs. They grow on the ground with fine branches, and the whole plant is like a cushion, which can reduce the impact of strong winds and reduce energy consumption. For example, Dianthus northeast, a small herb of Primulaceae, is native to Tibet, Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai and other places, and grows on bare sand or alpine meadow at an altitude of 4000-5300 meters. Especially in Dingri County, Tibet, the exposed rocks are decorated like pieces of white round cakes on the meadow with Gabra Glacier at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters. Because its flowers are white and have five lobes, it is named after Bai Mei touches the ground.

There are also exotic species of alpine plants, such as Tahuang of Polygonaceae and Rhubarb. It is common in alpine meadows or gravel beaches with an altitude of 4000 ~ 4900 meters in southern Tibet, northwestern Yunnan and western Sichuan. The factory is a narrow-pointed pagoda with a height less than 1 m. Strangely, there are many bracts in the middle and upper parts of its plants, which are big and drooping, and covered with a layer, just like tiles. When it rains, the rain can't get in. Don't underestimate its bracts! Because the bracts cover the flowers and prevent rain and cold air from invading the flowers, the temperature inside is higher than that outside, just like a natural greenhouse, attracting many small insects to get in and keep warm!

A major feature of alpine plants is their thick stems, thick leaves and deep roots. Their stems, leaves and roots are rich in sugar and protein, some of which can reach 25% of dry weight. This is because plants grow slowly in the mountains and consume less nutrients, but photosynthesis accumulates more nutrients. The thick stems and leaves also store air to resist the harsh environment of lack of oxygen in mountainous areas. For example, Rhododendron Senecio (a rhododendron) is a small alpine shrub with thin and dense branches, but less than one meter high and thick leaves. If the leaves are cut open and observed under a microscope, you will find that there are many gaps in the leaves and air is stored. Rhododendron Senecio is distributed in alpine shrub areas in Qinghai and northwest Sichuan, with an altitude of 4800 meters.

In addition, the roots of alpine plants are developed, because strong roots can penetrate deep into the cracks of underground sand and gravel, absorb deep water and nutrients, and supply plants with sufficient nutrients; Moreover, the plants are firmly fixed on the ground, which has the spirit of "tempering, letting the east, west, north and south wind".

Gorgeous flowers

Alpine plants usually have showy flowers. There are three world-famous alpine flowers in China: Rhododendron, Primula and Dracaena, which belong to Rhododendron, Primulaceae and Dracaena respectively. There are many kinds of flowers, and flowers often compete in the mountains. Why are the flowers of alpine plants so beautiful? In-depth research by scientists found that strong ultraviolet rays in the mountains are easy to destroy chromosomes in petal cells and hinder the synthesis of nucleotides, which is harmful to the flowers themselves; But long-term adaptation makes petals produce a lot of carotenoids and anthocyanins, which can absorb ultraviolet rays and protect chromosomes. Carotenoids can make petals yellow, while anthocyanins can make petals red, blue and purple. The higher the altitude, the stronger the ultraviolet rays, the more the above two substances in the petals, and the richer the colors of the petals.

azalea

faint yellow

Gentian flowers

There is also a unique Tibetan Poirot flower, which belongs to Lagerstroemia. People often think that mountains are too "bitter" for plants to bloom, but the opposite is true. Many alpine plants, such as Tibetan Poirot, can produce large red flowers. Their flowers seem to have come straight out of the soil. The flowers are inclined and close to the ground. They were born on the alpine meadow at an altitude of 5400 meters in Tibet, and can also be seen on the stone beach in the mountains.

The charm of alpine plants

Besides beautiful alpine flowers, there are many medicinal plants, such as Saussurea involucrata. Saussurea involucrata belongs to Saussurea in Compositae, and there are many kinds, among which Saussurea involucrata is the most famous.

The earliest record of Saussurea involucrata is the book Compendium of Materia Medica written by Zhao Xuemin in the Qing Dynasty, which says: "Saussurea involucrata looks like a lotus", "It is slightly thinner than the lotus, and its petals are thin and narrow, reaching three or four inches, which is absolutely like a pen"; There is another cloud: "The snow in the cold region will not be scattered in spring and summer. There is grass in the snow, like a lotus, with a single stem, and it is lovely in the thin snow." The "petal" in Zhao's character is the involucre leaf outside the inflorescence, which is milky white, and the inflorescence is set off by snow and looks like a lotus, hence the name "Snow Lotus". Ji Yun (Ji Xiaolan), a scholar in Qing Dynasty, officially used the name "Snow Lotus" in Notes of Yuewei Caotang. He said: "There is a snow lotus outside the Great Wall, born in the snow of Chongshan, which looks like a modern chrysanthemum and is called a lotus ear." People often say that Saussurea involucrata is this species.

But there is a misunderstanding. When picking Saussurea involucrata, it is "Saussurea involucrata" that grows in the snow and "Shi Lian" that grows in the crevices. In fact, not all Saussurea involucrata are born in the snow, but they can also grow in cracks. The so-called "Shi Lian" is Snow Lotus. Saussurea involucrata is generally born in the frozen zone between 2000 and 3500 meters below the alpine snow line.

Saussurea involucrata is a famous Chinese medicine. It has the functions of dredging channels, promoting blood circulation, dispelling cold and removing dampness, and has a good curative effect on rheumatoid arthritis and gynecological diseases. Other species of Saussurea involucrata, the famous Saussurea involucrata, are distributed in alpine meadows and rocky beaches with an altitude of 3,500-4,500 meters in Tibet, northwest Yunnan and western Sichuan. This plant looks a bit like Saussurea involucrata, with big bracts but yellow leaves. Tibetan doctors use this medicine instead of Saussurea involucrata, and the whole herb is used as medicine, with the same effect as Saussurea involucrata.

Among the alpine medicinal plants, there is also a well-known "Rhodiola", which belongs to Rhodiola of Sedum. There are more than 90 species of this genus, and there are more than 70 species in China, including 32 species in Tibet. The extracts of aerial parts and underground parts of this genus can not only be used as health care drugs for special workers in special environment; It is also an anti-fatigue drug, which has the function of strengthening the body and improving intelligence. Its efficacy is similar to that of ginseng and superior to ginseng. Rhodiola sachalinensis is used as a health care medicine in aerospace, military and sports medicine because it has no side effects of ginseng. Some varieties can also treat many diseases, such as Rhodiola crenulata, which is often used by Tibetan doctors to treat tuberculosis and cardiovascular diseases.

In Taibai Mountain, Shaanxi Province, there is a kind of Fritillaria called "Fritillaria Taibai", which belongs to Fritillaria of Liliaceae and is a perennial herb. There are bulbs underground, which can be used as medicine and have the effect of moistening lung, resolving phlegm and relieving cough. It is an important drug for treating respiratory diseases. Local folk songs have a knack for identifying and picking this wild Fritillaria: "Flowers are like lanterns and leaves are like leeks. They bloom in May and stop in June. We will pick Fritillaria and walk on the rocks. "

There is also an herb called Taibai Rice. People think it is a medicine for strengthening the stomach. In fact, it belongs to Liliaceae and is also a perennial herb. It was born in the alpine grass above 3000 meters above sea level. Its bulb is called Taibai rice and its root is Taibai garlic. Bulbs and roots are used as medicine to strengthen the stomach, stop vomiting, relieve pain and relieve cough. There is also a kind of "Taibai Chrysanthemum", which belongs to Compositae and is born in the alpine meadow belt at the top of Taibai Mountain. The whole herb is used as medicine, which has the function of relieving cough and improving eyesight, and is a good medicine for treating lung disease.