Plants & Trees of the Riparian Life Zones: Higher Elevation
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Montane Forests and Subalpine Life Zones: Rivers, Streams, Lakes, and Ponds
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Lots of snow falls on the montane and subalpine forests over the winter. The snow melt keeps the forests wet for much of the summer. In the late spring and early summer, mountain streams collect the snow melt from the damp hill sides and run at full force. Some snow melt collects in lakes, ponds, and marshlands. Beavers build dams across mountain creeks and create small ponds and marshlands. Beavers provide important habitats for moose and other animals, help keep the streams clear, and prevent too much erosion. By the end of summer the land starts drying out, lake shorelines start dropping, ponds and marshlands dry up, and less water flows down the mountain streams. The forest gets ready for another winter of white gold, snow. Click here to learn more about how rivers are formed. |
Lodgepole Pine
SW CO Plants
Tree Book
BC Adventure
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Willow
SW CO Plants
Barrenground Willow
SW CO Plants
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Aspen Tree
SW CO Plants
Tree Book
Bird & Hike LV
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-More Trees
-Mountain Alder
-Red Maple
-Narrowleaf Cottonwood
-Choke Cherry
-River Birch
-& more trees
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Colorado Blue Spruce
SW CO Plants
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Cattails
SW CO Plants
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Aquatic Plants
Burreed
Buckbean
Smartweed
Bladderwort
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Moss
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Parry's Primrose
SW CO Plants
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Rocky Mountain Columbine
SW CO Plants
Denver Plants
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Wild Flowers
Wild Iris
Marsh Marigold
Bog Violet
Veronica
Mint
Checker Mallow
Dogbane
Golden Glow
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More Flowers
Elephant's Head
Corydalis
Gentian
Pyrola
Monkey Flower
Bluebells
Shooting Star &Many More
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Different kinds of Grasses |
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-More Plants
Elderberry
Snowberry
Poison Ivy
Gooseberry
Dogwood
Buffaloberry
Corn Lilly &Many_More
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Plants of the Riparian Life Zones: Highest Elevations
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Alpine Life Zone: Streams, Lakes, and Ponds
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Snow rules the land for most of the year high in the alpine tundra. In the late spring snow does start melting. Hidden streams may flow under the sheets of snow. If you are ever snowshoeing or skiing in the mountains in the late spring, you need to be very careful because the snow can collapse and you can really hurt yourself. The water pools into crystal clear alpine lakes, and the streams continue down the mountainsides. By the middle of summer enough snow melts for the land to show. Many grasses, alpine willow, and other small plants turn the alpine tundra bright green. Flowers paint the mountain sides with color. The plants must bloom quick because by early fall, snow can start falling on the alpine tundra again. |
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Alpine Lakes |
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Alpine Streams |
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Indian Paintbrush
SW CO Plants
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Larkspur
SW CO Plants
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Alpine Flowers
Star Gentian
Starwort
Saxifrage
Bistort
Bittercress
Alpine Fireweed
& Many More
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Barrenground Willow
SW CO Plants
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Different kinds of grasses |
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Other Small Plants
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