There is barely any vegetation in the tundra, only about 1,700 different species, which isn't very much. These are mostly shrubs, sedges, mosses, lichens, grasses, and about 400 varieties of flowers. The growing season is only about 50 to 60 days long. There are no trees, except for some birches in the lower latitudes.
Bearberry
Bearberry is a low growing evergreen.It is commonly found in dry, non-nutrient soils such as sand, soils on rock outcrops and shallow soils. Bearberry is plentiful in the wild. This plant ranges from northern California to Alaska, south to New Mexico. Other areas of the world include Greenland, Iceland, and northern Eurasia.
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Arctic Moss
Arctic Willow |
Arctic moss grows in the arctic tundra with harsh cold environment within the arctic circle. It is is an aquatic plant found growing on the bottom of tundra lake beds and in and around bogs and fens. It is adapted to cold harsh environments. W hen it is not growing it stores nutrients so new leaves can be made quickly in the spring.
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Diamond-leaf Willow |
Caribou moss grows in arctic and northern regions around the world. It grows on the ground and on rocks. It looks like a foamy, gray-green spongy mass, and grows to be 1 to 4 inches high. The stems, or stocks, are hollow, and branch out many times. Although it is called caribou moss, it is actually a lichen.
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Labrador Tea |
On the tundra the diamond-leaf willow is known by the Inupiat name Sura. Sura grows near creeks, marshes or other wet areas. Young leaves are picked in the spring, before they become bitter and hard. They can be used in seal oil to add vitamins. Seal oil is also used to preserve the leaves. Willow leaves can also be dried and used in tea and in soup as flavoring.
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Pasque Flower |
The Labrador tea plant grows to be 4 to 5 feet. It will grow up straight in the southern latitudes of the tundra, but in the colder northern latitudes it will creep over the ground forming a carpet. It has woolly branches with narrow 1 to 2 inch leaves which are smooth on the upper side, with rusty hairs underneath. They droop slightly and edges are rolled under, and are a leathery green in color. At the ends of the branches are tiny clusters of white flowers with protruding stamen, which bloom in June and July.
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Tufted Saxifrage |
The Labrador tea plant grows to be 4 to 5 feet. It will grow up straight in the southern latitudes of the tundra, but in the colder northern latitudes it will creep over the ground forming a carpet. It has woolly branches with narrow 1 to 2 inch leaves which are smooth on the upper side, with rusty hairs underneath. They droop slightly and edges are rolled under, and are a leathery green in color. At the ends of the branches are tiny clusters of white flowers with protruding stamen, which bloom in June and July.
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