How does the tundra climate affect plant growth?

The tundra climate is characterized by extremely cold temperatures, strong winds, and a short growing season. These conditions create a unique environment that significantly influences plant growth.

In the tundra, the permafrost—a layer of permanently frozen soil—limits the depth to which roots can penetrate, restricting the types of plants that can thrive there. As a result, vegetation is typically low to the ground and consists mainly of mosses, lichens, low shrubs, and small flowering plants. This growth pattern helps minimize water loss and damage from wind and cold, allowing these plants to survive in a harsh climate.

The other options suggest conditions that do not accurately describe the tundra environment. Extensive tree growth (option A) is not supported due to the harsh climatic conditions and permafrost, while rapid growth of tall grasses (option D) contradicts the limited growing season and cold temperatures. Additionally, the notion that flora thrives in open meadows (option C) overlooks the specific adaptations of tundra plants to cope with their environment, as they tend to be low-growing rather than thriving in extensive meadows or open fields. Thus, the characteristic of plants growing low to the ground fits well with the tundra climate's challenges and limitations.