Scotch pine is the most widely distributed pine species in the world, growing from northern Scotland to the Russian Pacific shore. The relatively humid and productive taiga of northern Europe and south-central Siberia is dominated by this species. Forest management has greatly favoured this species in Scandinavia and Finland. It is a thick-barked species and easily survives light ground fires, often reaching ages of 350 to 400 years and some individuals being older than 700 years. European aspen and Siberian spruce are essentially transcontinental in distribution as well.

The species composition of Eurasian taiga is different east of central Siberia from that which prevails westward into Europe. Distinctive European species include Norway spruce (Picea abies), a large dominant species of the productive humid parts of the taiga, and Sukaczev larch (Larix sukaczewii), an early successional species (one of the first species to colonize an area after a disturbance) of European Russia. Gray (Betula populifolia) and white birch (B. pendula) occur across northern Europe and well into central Siberia. The birches often form dense stands of light- or white-barked trees that are considered a characteristic feature of the taiga. Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) and Siberian fir (Abies sibirica) are restricted to north-central Asia. Species restricted to northeastern Asia include chosenia (Chosenia arbutifolia), an early successional broad-leaved tree of floodplains; Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica), a short shrub or tree; and Asian spruce (Picea obovata).

All North American tree species are distributed across the continent except jack pine (Pinus banksiana), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and balsam fir (Abies balsamea). Jack pine is a relatively small, short-lived, early successional tree occurring in the eastern and central parts of taiga east of the Rocky Mountains. Lodgepole pine is a longer-lived, early successional species growing in western Canada and along the Rocky Mountain axis from central Yukon southward to well south of the taiga limit. Balsam fir is a shade-tolerant, late successional, but relatively short-lived tree that occurs only in the eastern and central parts of the North American taiga.

Major taiga tree species are well adapted to extreme winter cold. The northernmost trees in North America are white spruce that grow along the Mackenzie River delta in Canada, near the shore of the Arctic Ocean. The northernmost trees in the world are Gmelin larch (Larix gmelinii) found at latitude 72°40′ N on the Taymyr Peninsula in the central Arctic region of Russia.

A representative profile of the vegetation is shown in the figure.

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Ecosystems

Other plants

A distinctive feature of the flora of taiga is the abundance and diversity of mosses. About one-third of the ground cover under taiga is dominated by moss. Much of the ground cover in older conifer stands is moss, which grows on rocks, on tree trunks, and in the pits formed by upturned trees. Extensive peaty wetlands in the boreal region are often thick accumulations of dead sphagnum and other mosses, sedges, and other plants; a living moss layer continually grows at the surface.

Lichens (a symbiotic association of a fungus and algae) constitute a significant part of the ground cover in the lichen woodland or sparse taiga. Lichens are also generally well distributed on tree trunks and especially in the canopy of older conifers throughout the taiga. Because lichens and mosses are dispersed by airborne spores that can travel long distances, many species of both groups are found across the entire circumpolar taiga.

Many vascular plants are also widespread across the circumpolar north. Some forest understory species dominate their habitats; they include twinflower (Linnaea borealis), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), baneberry (Actaea rubra), and Swedish and Canadian dwarf cornel (Cornus suecica and C. canadensis). Several taiga plants are adapted to rapid colonization and growth in recently burned areas, such as fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). The extensive peatlands of the boreal north support a typical flora that usually includes species such as Labrador tea (Ledum palustre), cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus), cotton grass (Eriophorum species), and crowberry (Empetrum nigrum or E. hermaphroditum). In northern Europe crowberry also grows as shrub mats under Scotch pine forests or woodlands. Crowberry has been shown to produce secondary chemical compounds that inhibit or kill Scotch pine seedlings. Periodic light ground fires reduce the abundance and vigour of crowberry and allow tree regeneration.

Specialized orchids in the forest understory include calypso (Calypso bulbosa), coralroot (Corallorrhiza trifida), and lady’s slipper (Cypripedum species). The roots of these plants form particular associations with fungi (mycorrhizae). Willow shrubs (Salix species) are one of the first plants to emerge following disturbances on floodplains and occasionally on uplands as well. Important grasses across the boreal region include species of bromegrass (Bromus species), bluegrass (Poa species), reed bent grass (Calamagrostis species), and vanilla grass (Hierochloe odorata). Many freshwater aquatic plants such as sedges (Carex species) and pondweeds (Potamogeton species) are distributed widely across the boreal zone of both continents because migratory waterfowl and shorebirds are effective in dispersing their seeds. Several species of ferns are common to the taiga regions of the two continents, especially in regions of higher precipitation.