Included here is the Tibetan Plateau bordered by the eastern Pamirs and eastern Hindo Kush Mountains to the west, the Karakorum Range and Himalayas to the south, the Bayan Khara Shan Mountains to the east and the Transalai (Zaalai) Range to the north It is the highest, largest and youngest plateau on Earth with a mean elevation exceeding 4500 m.

Tibetan Xeric Shrublands

Often found in conjunction with steppe communities, these shrublands are characterized by low growing shrubs such as Potentilla fruticosa and several endemic species such as Caragana versicolor (Fabaceae) in the west and Lonicera tibetica (Caprifoliaceae) in the east. Other endemic, xerophilic shrubs found at these altitudes are Buddleia tibetica (Buddleiaceae) and Sophora moorcroftiana (Fabaceae). The latter is typically found on mobile dunes.

References

Chang, D. H. S. 1981. The vegetation zonation of the Tibetan Plateau. Mountain Research and Development, 1: 29-48.

Walter, H. & Box, E. O. 1983. Deserts of Central Asia. In: Ecosystems of the World 5 - Temperate Deserts and Semi-Deserts. Ed. N. E. West. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.

Wang, W., Wang, Q., Li. S. & Wang, G. 2006. Distribution and species diversity of plant communities along a transect on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Biodiversity and Conservation, 15: 1811-1828.

Walter, H. & Box, E. O. 1983. The Pamir. In: Ecosystems of the World 5 - Temperate Deserts and Semi-Deserts. Ed. N. E. West. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.

Ward, F. K. 1936. A sketch of the vegetation and geography of Tibet. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, 148: 133-160.