Tundra+Plants


 * Tundra Plants:**
 * Tundra plants can not grow on top of high mountains and in the far north because the climate is so cold.
 * There are other smaller plants that do grow in the tundra, some example are lichens and mosses. Water, sunlight and nutrients from the soil are three things plants need to survive. The dirt is frozen solid and it is usually dry and dark in the tundra. The plants still manage to grow! The land becomes colorful in the few weeks of summer.
 * Mosses like Sphagnum moss, spread all over the ground. The way they get moisture is from taking it in from the air. These types of plants don't have roots running deep into the ground like trees, instead they have tiny roots running across the ground, which shoot up small sprouts.
 * There is even color on rocks. Lichens provide extra food for the animals living in the Tundra. They also cover up the stones. Lichens are actually two plants that grow together-fungus that sticks to the rocks and algae that grows on top of it, soaking up the sunlight during summer, and giving it color. Some lichens can grow for centries. Greenland lichen can be 4,500 years old!
 * Moss and lichens are sensitive to population because they are very simple plants. Scientists have been studying them for more than 30 years, so they could watch how the air quality has changed in the tundra. [[image:http://www.tour-life.com/img/murm10.jpg width="328" height="244" align="right"]]

( Book Reference: "A Tundra Food Chain")