alpines

Alpines are plants adapted to life in alpine environments, typically at high elevations above the tree line. They are not a single taxonomic group; alpine flora comprises many species across diverse plant families found in mountains worldwide. Alpines occur in habitats such as rocky slopes, scree, alpine meadows, and snow beds where the growing season is brief and conditions harsh.

Common adaptations include compact cushion or rosette growth to minimize heat loss and wind exposure, small tough leaves, and dense hairs or waxy coatings to reduce water loss and protect from UV radiation. Many are perennials; some are biennials or annuals. Reproduction is often timed to the short summer; flowering can be profuse in a narrow window, and seeds are dispersed by wind or animals.

Alpine flora is widespread, occurring in mountains across continents, from Europe’s Alps and the Caucasus to the Andes, Rockies, Himalayas, and Atlas. Notable alpine plants include Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), cushion saxifrages (Saxifraga spp.), gentians (Gentiana spp.), and Primula species.

Alpine ecosystems are sensitive to climate change, with warming winters and summers shifting suitable habitat upward and reducing the area available at the highest elevations. Some species face range contractions or local extinction. Local threats include grazing, mining, and tourism-related disturbance. Conservation responses focus on protecting mountain habitats, monitoring populations, and maintaining ecological connectivity, along with ex situ conservation in seed banks or botanical gardens.