You will ...

• realize that vegetative reproduction is a common plant trait in cold environments
• be informed that based on morphology as much as 21 different types of clonal plants have been described
• know some characteristic clonal plants from arctic-alpine habitats

You will learn ...

• what kind of advantages is associated with clonal growth in plants
• why contrasting growth forms of clonal plants have been named "phalanx" and "guerrilla"
• why physiological integration is associated with benefits in resource poor habitats

You will understand ...

• why clonal growth is not always associated with reduced sexual reproduction
• differences in the life cycle of clonal plants and their functional significance
• why a "division of labour" is realized in clonal plants

You will will be able to ...

• distinguish different clonal growth strategies based on growth form, the extend of physiological integration, and phenotypic plasticity
• "walk" on glacier foreland starting from the retreating ice, passing all stages of the succession from first pioneers to the mature forest.