World’s highest plants discovered 20,000 feet above sea level

Vascular plants aren’t supposed to be able to grow there.

Bryan Nelson

This cushion plant is a relative of the ones found at record altitudes. (Photo: J Brew/Flickr)

The high Himalayas are a forbidding place to eek out an existence. Only highly specialized organisms can adapt to the frigid conditions. So you can imagine the surprise when researchers ascended more than 20,000 feet and stumbled upon some greenery. Read more.