Mongolia’s varied plant life is shaped by its extreme continental climate and high average elevation. Situated deep within the Eurasian landmass, the country experiences long, bitterly cold winters and short, intensely hot summers, creating challenging conditions for vegetation growth. The high average elevation, around 1,580 meters above sea level, contributes to the short growing seasons across the territory. Mongolia is located at the junction of Siberian taiga forests, Central Asian deserts, and the great steppe, resulting in a diversity of biomes. The distribution of flora is determined by latitude, which influences temperature, and by elevation, which impacts precipitation levels, leading to distinct zones.
The Great Steppe and Grassland Flora
The temperate grasslands, known as the Great Steppe, are the country’s dominant biome, covering over three-fourths of Mongolia’s land area. This expansive zone is characterized by perennial grasses that form a thin, resilient groundcover, necessary due to the semi-arid conditions and frequent seasonal droughts. Common species include various forms of feather grass (Stipa spp.) and fescue grasses (Festuca spp.), such as sheep’s fescue (Festuca ovina), which form dense tussocks adapted to dry soils.
These steppe plants cope with heavy grazing pressure from nomadic livestock by growing quickly during the brief summer wet season and storing nutrients in underground root systems. Low-lying herbaceous plants and forbs are interspersed among the grasses, contributing to biodiversity and providing essential forage. The absence of trees is attributed to low precipitation, frequent wildfires, and intense grazing, which prevent saplings from establishing.
Northern Taiga and Forest Species
The northern, mountainous regions, such as the Khentii and Khangai ranges, contain boreal forests, or Taiga, where moisture is higher and temperatures are cooler than the steppe. This zone is limited to about 5% of the country, yet it hosts Mongolia’s most extensive stands of trees. The defining species of the Mongolian Taiga is the Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica), which covers more than 80% of the forested area.
Siberian Larch is unique among conifers because it is deciduous, shedding its needles in the autumn. This trait helps it survive the extreme cold and arid winter conditions. These forests primarily grow on the northern slopes of mountains, benefiting from greater shade and moisture retention. Intermixed with the dominant larch are smaller stands of other conifers like Siberian Pine and Fir, as well as deciduous species such as birch and aspen.
Gobi Desert and Semi-Arid Adaptations
In the south, the landscape transitions into the Gobi Desert and semi-desert regions, where vegetation is sparse and highly specialized. Plants here are almost exclusively xerophytes, adapted to survive with minimal water availability. A prime example is the Saxaul tree (Haloxylon ammodendron), a large shrub or small, gnarled tree that dominates the true desert landscape.
The Saxaul employs an extensive root system that can penetrate up to 30 feet deep and spread widely to anchor against wind erosion and reach deep groundwater reserves. Other xerophytes, such as various species of saltwort, thrive in the highly saline soils common in the desert basins. These halophytes often have fleshy or waxy leaves to minimize water loss and tolerate high salt concentrations. Ephemeral plants, like wild onion (Allium mongolicum), rapidly sprout, flower, and set seed following rare rainfall events, completing their life cycle before the moisture evaporates.