Plant evolutionary ecology in mountain regions in space and time

This special issue of the journal Alpine Botany brings together syntheses, macroecological and taxon-specific studies of patterns and processes of plant evolution in major mountain ranges across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. Apart from reflecting current conceptual and methodological perspectives in the field, it contributes to our understanding of the interplay between factors determining the evolution and distribution of plant variation across topographically complex areas, and will help to identify the components necessary for building an integrative model of the origin and distribution of diversity in mountain areas.