 If you get high enough in the mountains, near or above the timber line, you'll be in a plant community called the Alpine Tundra. In the Tundra, extreme temperature fluctuations, drought conditions, low atmospheric pressure, frequent freezing and thawing of the soil, and a cool, short growing season all lead to some of the most severe conditions for plant growth. Plants in the Alpine Tundra have some unusual adaptations for surviving here. For example, tender plants are capable of photosynthesis and growth at temperatures near freezing or below. Some are even able to grow while still covered with snow. In order to take advantage of the warmer temperatures at the soil surface, some plants grow low, dense mats, spreading out along the ground. The Tundra landscape is also highly variable, with many areas bare of any vegetation, covered with rocks, boulders or cliffs. Harsh growing conditions and rugged terrain characterize the highest of our plant communities in Wyoming, the Alpine Tundra. From the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, I'm Barton Stam.