ALPECOLE
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Dynamic mountain climate

Cushion plants

 

Cushion plants are excellent heat traps and may even suffer from periodic overheating, the price for compact growth. The benefit: no leaf litter, hence no mineral nutrients get blown away from the cushion's "personal" compost pile.

<img src="02p/jpg/cushion.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="cushion">

1 - As the direction of the sun changes, different parts of the cushion get hot. The center may easily warm up to 15 K above air temperature.

 

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29 August 2011
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