{{Short description|Ecological area}} [[File:Fellfield.jpg|thumb|right|A fellfield in Mount Rainier National Park ]] A '''fellfield''' or '''fell field''' comprises the environment of a slope, usually alpine or tundra, where the dynamics of frost (freeze and thaw cycles) and of wind give rise to characteristic plant forms in scree interstices.<ref name="leroux">{{cite web|url=http://academic.sun.ac.za/consecol/students/leroux/leroux.html |title=Peter le Roux |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070822031931/http://academic.sun.ac.za/consecol/students/leroux/leroux.html |archivedate = 2007-08-22}}</ref>
==Soil dynamics== The freeze-thaw cycles tend to push plants out of the soil. In addition, the high porosity of the soil makes a fellfield a difficult place for plants to grow.<ref name="leroux"/> Fellfields often have typical patterns of rocks: lines of rocks that have been pushed out of the soil, and slid into a low region.<ref name="schoenherr"/>
==Botany== In botany the term "fellfield" describes an ecoregion, ecosystem, habitat, or plant community. The term frequently used is '''alpine fellfield'''. Fellfield is usually applied to an alpine tundra region of high altitude mountains, or high latitude islands, and the alpine plants there.<ref name="schoenherr">{{cite book|last=Schoenherr|first=Allan A.|title=A Natural History of California|publisher=University of California|year=1992|isbn=0-520-06922-6}}</ref>
===Flora=== Fellfields are typically populated by cushion plants: perennials that grow close to the ground. Cushion plants are well-adapted to the dryness and short growing season of a fellfield. Cushion plants often have hairy foliage and long taproots, to gather and retain moisture. Examples of cushion plants include the lupines and buckwheats.<ref name="schoenherr"/>
====Fellfield species==== *Alpine flora list ** ''Azorella selago'' ** ''Oenothera xylocarpa'' ** ''Calyptridium umbellatum''
Some geologists find it is controversial to share the term for biology and geomorphology applications.<ref name="schoenherr"/>
==See also== * Feldmark
==References== {{reflist}}
*F Category:Habitats Category:Landforms Category:Montane ecology Category:Rock formations