Table 1.

Characteristics of the investigated evergreen woody alpine dwarf shrubs.

Plant species	Vertical distribution (m a.s.l.) in the European Alpsa	Flowering time	Habitat characteristics
			Exposition	Snow cover in winter
Calluna vulgaris	700–2500 collin – alpine	July–August	South exposed slopes	Snow cover not needed
Empetrum hermaphroditum	1700–2600 subalpine – alpine	April–May	North exposed slopes	Chionophyte – snow cover absolutely necessary
Loiseleuria procumbens	1800–2800 subalpine – alpine	May–June	Wind exposed ridges	Snow cover not needed

^aVertical distribution according to Landolt (1992).