Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The vegetation of highlands

  • Chapter
Ecology of Highlands

Part of the book series: Monographiae Biologicae ((MOBI,volume 40))

  • 95 Accesses

Abstract

The highland vegetation is remarkable for the absence of trees, large tree-like shrubs, lianas, climbers, etc. Shrubs are generally confined to elevations immediately above the timberline or grow only in certain specially favourable localities at higher elevations where also they tend to become greatly dwarfed. While true trees are absent, some interesting plants of certain tropical and equatorial mountains are arborescent. The giant and the arborescent Senecio johnstoni and S. kilimanjara are, for example, characteristic of the vegetation between 3000 and 4800 m on Mt. Kilimanjaro. The giant Lobelia grows at an elevation of 3600 m on Mt. Kenya. The paramoflora of the Andes has the giant Compositae Espeletia, which grows to 9 m height and bears at the tip a tuft of hairy leaves. The Puna plant of Andes Puva raimondii in Peru and Bolivia grows to 3–5 m height. Such giant and arborescent species may not be confused with trees. The highlands are basically treeless country.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Bamberg, S., W. Schwartz & W. Tranquillini. 1967. Influence of day-length on the photosynthetic capacity of stone-pine (Pinus cembra).Ecology, 48: 264–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Baruch, Z. 1979. Elevational differentiation in Espeletia schultzii (compositae), a giant rosette plant of the Venezualen Paramos. Ecology, 60(1): 85–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Billings, W. D. 1975. Vegetation: Arctic and alpine vegetation. Plant adaptations to cold summer climate. In: Arctic and Alpine Environments, Ed. J. D. Ives & R. G. Barry. London: Methuen & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brodführer, V. 1955. Der Einfluss einer abgetuften Dosierung von Ultravioletter Sonnenstrahlung auf das Wachstum der Pflanzen. Planta, 45: 1–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Brozoska, W. 1973. Stoffproduktion und Energiehaushalt von Nivalpflanzen. Ökosystemforschung (Ed. H. Ellenberg, pp. 2225-233).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bukharin, P. D. 1961. Carotene levels of introduced plants grown at various altitudes. Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR (Bot.) 136(1–6): 28–30.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Caberra, A. L. 1958. La vegetacion de la Puna Argentina. Rev. Invest, agric. B. Aires, 11(4): 317–412.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Caldwell, M. M. 1968. Solar ultraviolet radiation as an ecological factor for alpine plants. Ecol. Monogr., 38(3): 243–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Caldwell, M. M. 1970. The wind regime at the surface of the vegetation layer above the timberline in the Central Alps. Centralbl. Ges. Forstw., 87: 65–74.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Caldwell, M. M. 1970. The effect of wind on the stomatal aperture, photosynthesis and transpiration of Rhododendron ferrugineum and Pinus cembra. Centralbl. Ges. Forstw., 87: 193–201.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Cuatrecases, J. 1958. Aspectos de la vegetacion natural de Colombia. Rev. Acad. Colon. Cienc. exact. fis. nat., 10: 10.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Diels, L. 1934. Die Paramos der äquatorialen Hochanden. Sitzb. preuss. Akad. Wiss., 57–58.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Engler, A. 1914. Über Herkunft, Alter und Verbreitung extremer xerothermer Pflanzen. Sitzb. preuss. Akad. Wiss., 20.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fedschenko, B. A. 1902. Ocherk k rastitelnoti Pamira Shungnana e Alaiya. Trud. S. Petersburgskovo estestvoispitalei, 33: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fedschenko, B. A. 1903–1909. Flore du Pamir. Acta horti Petropolitana, 21 (1903); Suppl. 1. 24 (1904)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Fedschenko, B. A. 1903–1909. Flore du Pamir. Acta horti Petropolitana, 2: 24 (1905)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Fedschenko, B. A. 1903–1909. Flore du Pamir. Acta horti Petropolitana, 3: 28 (1907)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Fedschenko, B. A. 1903–1909. Flore du Pamir. Acta horti Petropolitana, 4: 28 (1909).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Fedschenko, B. A. 1947. Botanicogeographicheskoe rainoni rovanie Pamira. Tezisi Dokladu II. Sbezda vesoyuzhnovo Geographicheskovo Obschestovo.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Garnes, W. W. & H. A. Allard. 1920. Effect of the relative length of day and night and other factors of the environment on growth and reproduction in plants. J. agric. Res Washington DC, 18(11): 553–606.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Golovkova, A. G. 1959. Rastitelnost Centralnovo Tian-Shanya. Kirghiz-Gosudarst. Universtitet, Kaf. Bot. Frunze, pp. 1–456.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hauman, L. 1918. La vegetattion des hautes Cordilléres. Ann. Soc. Bien. Aug., 86: 121–128.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kashkharov, D. N., A. I. Zhukov & K.V. Stanyukovich. 1937. Kholodnaya Pustinya Centralnovo Tian-Shanya.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Khalikov, M. K. 1963. Prodolzhitelnost zimnego pokoya nekotorykh rastenii Pamira. Tr. Pamiriskoi Biol. Sta., 1: 243–248.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Korovin, E. P. 1934/1962. Rastitelnosti Srednii Asii yuzhnovo Kazakhstana. 1. Tashkent (1934); II. Acad. Nauk Uzbek SSR, Tashkent, pp. 1–540 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Mani, M. S. 1962. Introduction to High Altitude Entomology. London: Methuen & Co. pp. 1–304.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mani, M. S. 1968. Ecology and Biogeography of High Altitude Insects. The Hague: Dr W. Junk BV Publishers, pp. 1–527.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mani, M. S. 1974. Fundamentals of High Altitude biology. New Delhi: Oxford & IBH. pp. 196.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Mani, M. S. 1978. Ecology and phytogeography of High Altitude Plants of the Northwest Himalaya: Introduction to High Altitude Botany. New Delhi: Oxford & IBH. London: Chapman & Hall pp. xii + 205, pl. xxiv, figs. 49.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Mooney, H. A. & W. D. Billings. 1965. Effect of altitude on carbohydrate content on mountain plants. Ecology, 46(5): 750–751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Moser, W. 1973. Licht, Temperatur und Photosynthesis an der Station ‘Hoher Nebelkegel’ (3184 m). Ökosystemforschung (Ed. H. Ellenberg) pp. 203-223.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Müller, H. 1881. Die Alpenblumen, ihre Befruchtung durch Insekten und ihre Anpassungen dieselbe. Lepizig.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Penland, W. T. 1941. The alpine vegetation of the southern Rockies and Ecuadorian Andes. Colorado Coll. Pub., (Gen. Ser.) 32: 230.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Pisek A. & E. Winkler. 1958. Assimilationsvermögen und Respiration der Fichte (Picea excelsa) in verschiedener Höhelage und der Zirbe an der alpinen Waldgrenze (Pinus cembra).Planta, 51: 518–543.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Pisek, A. & E. Winkler. 1959. Licht-und Temperaturabhängigkeit der CO2-Assimilation von Fichte (Picea excelsa Link.), Zirbe (Pinus cembra L.) und Sonnenblume (Helianthus annus L.) Planta, 53: 532–550

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Popova, I. A. O. pigmentakh listev pamirskikh rastenii. Bot. Zhur., 43 (11): 1550-1561.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Rau, M. A. 1963. Illustrations of West Himalayan Flowering Plants. Calcutta: Botanical Survey of India. Special Pub. pp. 1-234.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Rau, M. A. Flora and vegetation of the Himalaya. In: Mani, M. S. 1973. Ecology and Biogeography in India. The Hague: Dr W. Junk. Ser. biol. pp. 247–280.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Shelter, S. W. 1964. Plants in the Arctic alpine environment. Ann. Rep. Smithsonian Inst., 4530: 473–497.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Swan, L. W. 1967. Alpine and aeolian regions of the world. In: Wright, H. E. Jr & W.H. Osburn. Arctic and Alpine Environments. Indiana Univ. Press. 3: 29–54.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Tranquillini, W. 1955. Die Bedeutung des Lichtes und der Temperature für die Kohlensäure-Assimilation von Pinus sembra L. Jungwuchs an einen highalpinen Standort. Planta, 46: 154–178.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Tranquillini, W. 1957. Standortsklima, Wasserbalanz, und CO2-Gaswechsel junger Zirben (Pinus cembra L.) an der alpinen Waldgrenze. Planta, 49: 612–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Tranquillini, W. 1967. Über die physiologischen Ursachen der Wald-und Baumgrenze. Mittl. Forstl. Bundesvers. Anst. Mariabrunn, 75: 456–487.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Troll, C. 1931. Die Landschaftsgürtel der tropischen Andes. Verh. wiss. Abh. 24 deutsch. oeogr. Tag. Danzig, pp. 264–270.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Troll, C. 1959. Die tropische Gebirge, ihre dreidimensionale klimatische und pflanzengeögraphische Zonierung. Bonn. geogr. Abh., 25.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Turner, H. 1958. Maximaltemperaturen oberflächennacher Bodenschichten an der alpinen Waldgrenze. Wetter Leb., 10: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Turner, H. 1970. Grundzüge der Hochgebirgsklimatologie. Die Welt der Alpen. Pinguin Verlag. Innsbruck.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Weber, H. 1958. Die Paramos von Costa Rica und ihre Pflanzengeographische Verkettung mit Hochanden Südamerikas. Abh. Akad. wiss. lit. Mainz, (Math-naturw. Klasse) 3.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Weberbauer, A. 1911. Die Pflanzenwelt der peruvianischen Anden. In: Vegetation der Erde. 12.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Webseter, G. L. 1961. The altitudinal limits of vascular plants. Ecology, 42: 587–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Zimmermann, A. 1953. The highest plants in the world. Mountain World, New York: Harper. pp. 130–136.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. M. S. Mani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1980 Dr. W. Junk bv Publishers, The Hague

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mani, M.S. (1980). The vegetation of highlands. In: Ecology of Highlands. Monographiae Biologicae, vol 40. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9174-3_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9174-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-9176-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-9174-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation