In the arctic tundra, plant life is very sparse. There are no trees because the permafrost prevents root growth. The meager amount of vegetation come sin small bunches that live close to the ground in order to survive the wind and cold. There are 1,700 species of plants, and while that may sound like a lot, it is an extremely small amount compared to more biodiverse biomes. Some of the plants in the arctic tundra include mosses, heaths, lichen, shrubs, sedges, grasses, and flowers. These plants have all adapted to the harsh conditions by learning how to carry out photosynthesis in low temperatures and low light levels.