Mt. Rainier (USA)

The "Pacific North-West" is one of the most humid places of N-America. The Mt. Rainier region is close to the metropolitan area of Seattle, receives pacific moisture in the order of 2-3 m per year and the alpine vegetation is enveloped in fog and clouds for most of the growing season. Volcanic soils provide a rather special, often highly hydrophobic substrate. Cushion plants and clusters of isolated herbaceous plants dominate the barren landscape only a few hundred metres above treeline.

1 - The top of Mt. Rainier protruding from the common blanket of pacific clouds (4392 m).
1 - The top of Mt. Rainier protruding from the common blanket of pacific clouds (4392 m).
2 - Alpine grassland near the treeline ecotone.
2 - Alpine grassland near the treeline ecotone.
3 - Fellfield vegetation with Potentilla sp.
3 - Fellfield vegetation with Potentilla sp.
4 - Aster sp. (Asteraceae)
4 - Aster sp. (Asteraceae)