Soil heat flux is high under
such conditions, also leading towarmer night-time temperatures for the predominant
sub-surface meristems (K¨orner & Cochrane, 1983; Grace et al., 1989; K¨orner et al.,
2003). There is no physiological evidence that trees are less capable of handling
low temperatures than grasses, herbs and dwarf shrubs. Trees simply experience a
colder world than grasses and dwarf shrubs, the life forms they are forced to yield
place to when it gets too cold (Colour Plate 4)