Abstract

MENDEZ, Eduardo. Vegetation of the high Andes II: The meadows on the eastern slope of the Cordón del Plata (Mendoza, Argentina). Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. [online]. 2007, vol.42, n.3-4, pp.273-294. ISSN 1851-2372.

In this study I present a description of the plant communities of humid sites of vegas or mallines of the eastern slope of the Cordón del Plata were analyzed. Two types of vegas were identified: 1) low altitude vegas between 1200- 2000 m a.s.l. represented by 9 communities; and 2) high altitude vegas above 2000 m a.s.l. represented by 11 communities. These communities were described through their physiognomy, floristic composition, and ecology. In order to analize the distribution of the vegas, relationships were drawn among altitude, temperature, and soil freezing processes. In addition, biological and chorological characteristics of the species, as well as their origins were considered. With respect to the vegetation distribution, high-altitude vegas occur at a intermediate altitudes between 2000 and 3,200 meters above sea level, and tundra (which was not considered as part of the study) occurs above 3,200 meter above sea level. A map was produced of the location of the area's wetlands.

Keywords : High Andes; Cordón del Plata; Vegetation of the vegas; Vegetation belts; Phytogeography.

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