What limits the species of plants that can grow in an area

All plants need certain living conditions to prosper, so depending on what kind of conditions there are, depends on what kind of plant species will be in that area. The most important limiting factors for the plant species are the sunlight, temperature, water, and soil. If there are high temperatures, high amounts of precipitation, and lot of sunlight, we can expect tropical species of plants. If there are moderate amounts of precipitation, less intense sunlight, change of seasons, then it is the temperate species of plants that can be expected. If we have low and weak amount of sunlight, very low temperatures, and very low precipitation, then it will plant species of the tundra type that can be expected.

geologic time scale (for gradpoint) =)