Question

Alpine forests of Himalayas have
A. Tall evergreen coniferous trees
B. Tall broad leaved evergreen trees
C. Tall broad leaved deciduous forests
D. Dwarf shrubby plants

Answer 1

Hint: Himalaya is a mountain range in Asia. This mountain range separates the plains of Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau.

Complete Answer:
Alpine forests of Himalayas: Alpine forest of Himalayas is a grassland and shrubland region of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal.
- This forest lies between the tree line and snow line in the Eastern portion of the Himalayan range.
- Alpine forests occur at the Alpine climate i.e. high elevation and above the tree line.
- Alpine climate includes low temperature, dryness, ultraviolet radiation, wind, drought, poor nutritional soil and a short growing season.
- The plants in alpine forests are called Alpine plants and these plants grow in Alpine climate.
- There are many plant species that grow as a plant community in these alpine tundras (a region that does not contain trees instead contain dwarf shrubby plants).
- These plants include perennial grasses, sedges, forbes, mosses, lichens and cushion plants.
- Alpine plants are adapted to the harsh environment of Alpine forest.
Therefore we have seen in the above discussion that Alpine forests of Himalayas have Dwarf shrubby plants.

Hence, option D is the right answer for this question.

Note: The plants that grow in the Alpine region of Himalayas are used for medicinal and aromatic purposes. Some of the plant species of medicinal plants in Indian Himalayas are – Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Picrorhiza kurroa, Aconitum heterophyllum etc.