Montane grasslands and shrublands

Montane grasslands and shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wildlife Fund.

This biome includes high elevation (montane and alpine) grasslands and shrublands, including the puna and páramo in South America, subalpine heath in New Guinea and East Africa, steppes of the Tibetan plateaus, as well as other similar subalpine habitats around the world.

[1] The plants and animals of tropical montane páramos display striking adaptations to cool, wet conditions and intense sunlight.

Around the world, characteristic plants of these habitats display features such as rosette structures, waxy surfaces, and abundant pilosity.

A unique feature of many tropical páramos is the presence of giant rosette plants from a variety of plant families, such as Lobelia (Africa), Puya (South America), Cyathea (New Guinea), and Argyroxiphium (Hawai’i).