montane

American  

[mon-teyn] / ˈmɒn teɪn /

adjective

1. pertaining to, growing in, or inhabiting mountainous regions.

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noun

1. the lower vegetation belt on mountains.

montane British  

/ ˈmɒnteɪn /

adjective

1. of or inhabiting mountainous regions

   a montane flora

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Etymology

Origin of montane

1860–65; < Latin montānus, equivalent to mont- (stem of mōns ) mount ² + -ānus -ane

Explanation

Anything described as montane has something to do with mountains. If you move to the Rockies, you can call your new house a montane home. You're most likely to find the adjective montane in a scholarly book or article about the ecosystem known as a montane forest. These are forests found at high altitudes, but not high enough for growth to be so limited that trees can't take root there. When there's a timberline or forest line on a mountain, that's typically the highest part of a montane forest. The Latin root of montane is the Latin mons, or "mountain."

Example Sentences

But by noon, I had topped out in the moss-draped montane forest, a land of lichens and ferns and orchids and graced with sunshine.

From National Geographic • Jan. 23, 2024

The ecosystem types the scientists analyzed -- desert, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, montane wet forest, mixed riparian woodland and mixed conifer broadleaf forest -- cover about 70% of California's land area.

From Science Daily • Sep. 27, 2023

In West Africa, Perret's montane chameleon is endangered and the rhinoceros viper is vulnerable.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2022

On the steeper, shadier canyon on the eastern side, plantings reflect upper and lower montane areas.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2022

The remainder live mainly in the grass-producing regions of the great plateaus, the mining regions or the flood-plains and grassy slopes of the higher montane regions.

From Commercial Geography A Book for High Schools, Commercial Courses, and Business Colleges by Redway, Jacques W. (Jacques Wardlaw)