Taiwan Alpine Vegetation － The Four Seasons

山羊百科，林文智老師的植物、山岳、攝影紀錄

Changes of the season

　Due to the extremely undulating mountain landscape affected by earth movements, small islands rapidly emerged from the sea bottom, forming magnificent ridges and peaks. In addition, within the several hundred meters stretch of mountainous lands from north to south, there are more than 200 mountains with altitude exceeding 3,000 meters. These mountains are located mostly around the Central Mountain Range, the Shiashan (Snow Mountain) Mountain Range and the Yishan Mountain Range. These three major systems form the backbone for Taiwan's landscape, and at the same time provide several crucial water sources for the river basins on the island.

　Under constant exposure to strong wind current and ample rainfalls, the island's canopy is made up of majestic high peaks, hanging cliffs and deep valleys. The humid climatic condition on the island has yielded to lush forestlands stretching from the seashores to the high mountains. Such greenery has render much pride to the islanders and created a wealth of knowledge on Mother Nature.

　The seasonal changes obviously are affecting the distributions of alpine vegetation at high altitude. Consequently, these changes have also created some of the most scenic mountain sights all year round. For photographers who have passion for alpine vegetation, the mystic of their subjects does not only captivate them, but also the scenic surrounding under different seasons. Although they often have to brave the hash weather conditions, but with good photographic skills, they could actually make use of the misty or snowy atmosphere to add esthetic beauty to their pictures. The seasonal changes are in fact a welcome challenge for the photographers as well as for the researchers alike.

　The island is blessed not only with fabulous natural alpine landscape, but also with some of the rarest vegetation species on earth. This combination truly reflects the eternal wealth and beauty possessed by the island.

Spring

　In early spring, the mountaintops are still snows capped. As cold fronts still continue to invade the island, chances of hailstorm is very high. Occasionally, the sky still snows. The entire climatic condition is very unstable. Subsequently, torrential rainfalls wash the ice off the tree branches and warm up the entire environment. Under the rich rainwater, numerous perennial, annual and biannual herbaceous vegetation begins to sprout. Young shoots begin to emerge from the trigs of the woody plants. The entire mountains seem to come alive.

　Into the second month of spring, patches of snow are still visible at the mountaintops, amidst patches of greenery. Certain plants have begun to blossom. Among them are the piers of the ericaceae family, fir (abies) of the gymnospermae family, hemlock spruce (tsuga) and Yishan Cypress (Squamata Juniperus). Unfortunately, those that rely on wind for pollination such as the brown-haired willow, abies and tsuga, rarely blossom under such wet condition.

　The rich spring rain irrigated the mountains, so that generation after generation of alpine vegetation continues to multiply and produce countless types of plan families. This herbaceous vegetation has helped to deter the speed of soil erosion on this hash environment.

Summer

　Early summer is the time for plum rains. This seasonal transitory period from spring to summer, is also the flowering time for the alpine vegetation. Rhododendron flowers of the ericaceae family are the first to appear, dotting the entire landscape, even to the edges of the ridges.

　Full blossom occurs in mid summer, whereby even tiny vegetation also emerges to the surface, such as the crystal orchid, moneses, and fake wide mushroom of the humus or saprophyte family. Nevertheless, as the southwest front brings with it dense moisture, the mountain areas are often blanketed in mist on the 2nd half of the day. Sometimes, at night, there are lighting from the cloud layers. Occasionally typhoons invade the areas, causing river water level to rise drastically and falling rocks and mudslides. Although in summer, the weather is unstable, when the sun rises and casts its rays onto the greenish Yishan Bamboo Grassland, the entire landscape turns its color from red to orange and then to green. Coupled with the changes in cloud formation, the entire transformation process is truly a captivating encounter for any climber. It instills a brand new respect from the climbers on the wonders of Mother Nature.

Fall

　In fall, although there are still occasional typhoon invasions, the weather in general is fairly stable. At this time, the flowering season at the alpine areas is at its end. Only the scenic morrisonensis of the compositae family, alpine blackhead herb of the ranunculaceae species and little other vegetation remain. Fall is the fruiting season for most vegetation especially the herbaceous plants. As far as the eyes can see, the entire mountain slopes, trails and walls are dotted with Alpine Borneo Winter Green's white-color fruits and Vibumum Integrifolium hay's fresh red fruits hanging on the branches. All sorts of sumptuous fruits are there to satisfy climbers' appetites.

　On the second month of fall, the greenish Yishan Bamboo Grassland begins to turn brown. At dawn, under the morning sunshine, the hays rustle in the air and the tall arbor trees gradually changes from green to brown color. Brown withered leaves dot the entire landscape. Flakes of red leaf swing from the twigs and some herbaceous plants have lost its glamour and began to wither and stand dry and stiff on the ground. Towards the end of fall, the continental air currents from Mongolia and Siberia affect the island's weather condition. Cold fronts continue to invade the island and the wind direction changes to the northeast monsoon. The moist air brings about frosty condition at the mountain areas. Beads of dew accumulating on the leaves turn into thin ice, causing some greenish evergreen woody plants to have frostbites. Deciduous woody plants enter their dormancy state in preparation for the winter period.

Winter

　In early winter, the northern cold current carried by the northeast monsoon wind enters the island. The cold and dry air converges with the dense moisture on the island and transforms into waves of cold fronts. As they pass the island, they bring hailstones and snow frosts to the alpine areas, turning the entire landscape into a magnificent silvery world.

　Weather at the alpine areas in winter is unpredictable. The duration of the snowy period depends on the level of moisture contents. At this time, herbaceous plants have disappeared. The Yishan Bamboo Grasslands gradually yield to the weight of the snow and begin to bend. Layers of rime cover the giant arbor trees.

　For sub-tropical folks, it is very rare to encounter such sight. The only chance of seeing this scene is to visit the northern countries or to ascend to the high mountains. Under the snowy condition, vegetation at the ground layer is nowhere to be seen; only the moss and lichen vegetation continues to grow in abundant, as if they refuse to surrender to the snowy environment. They inevitably become vital food source for the small animals and other mammals to live through the winter. If you are lucky, you might see some long-beard mountain goats roaming on the snowy grounds.

　The changing seasons pose crude challenges to the survival of all alpine vegetation. However, for more than a thousand years, the fir (abies) and hemlock spruce (tsuga) woodlands continue to thrive. The Yishan cypress (Juniperus Squamata Lamb Varmorrisonicala), with their entangled branches, continue to spiral on steep rocky walls. With their strong stems, the Yishan Arrow Bamboo easily sprouts everywhere and shelters many other types of alpine vegetation, facilitating their growth. The four seasonal changes can be portrayed as the chief director of Taiwan high mountains' fabulous scenarios.