Flora of the Sierra Nevada alpine zone

Further information: List of plants of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.) § Alpine Zone, and Ecology of the Sierra Nevada § Alpine Zone
The brightly colored sky pilot (Polemonium eximium), considered to be among the most beautiful of the Sierra Nevada wildflowers, grows in very harsh conditions to elevations of 13,000 feet (4,000 m), which is near the upper limit of plant growth in California.

The flora of the U.S. Sierra Nevada alpine zone is characterized by small, low growing, cushion and mat forming plants that can survive the harsh conditions in the high-altitude alpine zone above the timber line.[1][2][3]: 8 [4]: 214 [5]: 5 [6] These flora often occur in alpine fell-fields. The Sierra Nevada alpine zone lacks a dominant plant species that characterizes it, so may or may not be called a vegetation type.[7] But it is found above the subalpine forest, which is the highest in a succession of recognized vegetation types at increasing elevations.[1][6]: 17 

Botanists have ranked the Sierra Nevada alpine zone floral bloom as one of California's foremost wildflower displays, with flowers of fantastic color and abundance.[8] Many of the alpine species are notable for large and showy flowers, which must compete for the pollinators during brief growing seasons.[5] Botanist Philip A. Munz wrote, "These natural rock gardens are spectacular sights when in full flower."[5] Botanist Laird R. Blackwell wrote, "Up here... the flowers seem to glow... perhaps only the flowers of the harsh desert can rival the alpine flowers for intensity."[4]: 214 

Over 90% of California's alpine flora are perennial herbs.[5]: 18  Annuals are not common.[5]: 18  Depending on the elevation used to define its lower boundary, the Sierra Nevada alpine zone may have almost 600 species, about 200 of which are only found here (endemic).[5]: 17–18 [9] The flora includes plants that are descended from the plants that survived the glaciation of the last ice age (relict plants), because they were growing on mountain peaks that stood above the ice sheets like islands.[6]: 17 

  1. ^ a b Rundel, Philip W. (2011). "The Diversity and Biogeography of the Alpine Flora of the Sierra Nevada, California". Madroño. 58 (3): 153–184. doi:10.3120/0024-9637-58.3.153. S2CID 86541487.
  2. ^ Chabot, Brian F.; Billings, W.D. (1972). "Origins and Ecology of the Sierran Alpine Flora and Vegetation". Ecological Monographs. 42 (2): 163–199. doi:10.2307/1942262. JSTOR 1942262.
  3. ^ Horn, Elizabeth L. (1998). Sierra Nevada Wildflowers. Mountain Press Publishing Company. ISBN 0878423885.
  4. ^ a b Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierra and adjoining Mojave Desert Great Basin, Alpine (section), Laird R. Blackwell, 2002, Lone Pine Printing, ISBN 978-1-55105-281-6
  5. ^ a b c d e f Philip A. Munz (2003). Dianne Lake; Phyllis M. Faber (eds.). Introduction to California Mountain Wildflowers. University of California Press. ISBN 0520236351.
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference SNW was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Rundel, Philip W.; Gibson, Arthur C.; Sharifi, M. Rasoul (2005). "Plant Functional Groups in Alpine Fellfield Habitats of the White Mountains, California". Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. 37 (3): 358–365. doi:10.1657/1523-0430(2005)037[0358:pfgiaf]2.0.co;2.
  8. ^ Lukas, David. Sierra Alpine Wildflowers. University of California Press.
  9. ^ Smith, Genny, ed. (2003). "Alpine Rock and Meadow Communities". Sierra East. University of California Press. pp. 107–116. ISBN 9780520239142.