Conclusions

Glossary

altiplano

High altitude plane in Latin America

boreal

Nordic; usually used to indicate the zone of the nordic coniferous forests

bromeliad

A member of the Bromeliaceae family (Pineapple family)

ecotone

The transition zone from one to another type of ecosystem (e.g. from forest to shrubland)

ericaceous

Belonging to the Ericaceae plant family

fellfield

A largely barren, high elevation plain dominated by patches of graminoid and shrub vegetation and cryptogams

forb

A herb

geophyte

A plant with below ground storage rhizomes or bulbs and an apical bud buried deep below ground (geo-) during an adverse season

Gondwana

The palaeozoic land mass that unified today's Africa, India, Australia and South America.

graminoid

Grass-like

herbivory

Eating of grasses and forbs (herbs)

hotspot

A center of attraction or richness (e.g. in species)

hybridise

Genetic crossing commonly related to species of the same genus

land use

Anthropogenic utilisation of vegetation and soils and their transformation

lee

Wind shade (little wind)

luv

Exposed to wind (windy)

montane

Of the zone between the hill zone (coline) and the high elevation treeline ecotone, i.e. the vegetation of that zone.

pastoralism

Herding with a shepherd (lat. pastor)

phytogeographic

Geographic distribution of plants

symbiont

One of the partners in a symbiosis

symbiosis

(s. l.) A close, often obligatory association of organisms of different species - (s. str.) A close, often obligatory association of organisms of different species with an advantage for all partners

taxon

A taxonomic unit (e.g. a species, genus)