When glaciers retreat, the first habitat to appear is the tundra. A tundra is a cold, windy, treeless environment with little rain and a short growing season. The plants that grow in this harsh environment are unusually small such as: alpine bilberry, sibbaldia, and purple mountain saxifrage. They have adapted to conserve water and survive in the cold and wind. By enriching the soil, tundra plants play an important role in preparing the landscape for trees and other organisms. Although many tundra plant species disappeared as New York’s climate warmed, a few hang on in steep gorges and high Adirondack peaks. Alpine tundra may be the State’s most endangered ecosystem. These rare plants are nearly gone from New York.