Trees are not evergreen, mainly beech, oak, and birch, are predominant in the lower elevations; spruce, fir, larch, black pine, and stone pine extend to the timberline. The higher elevations have a very brief season during which alpine plants, including edelweiss, gentians, primroses, buttercups, and monkshoods, come into brilliant flower.Wildlife is generally scarce in Austria. Chamois, deer, and marmot are still described; bear, which were once extensive, are now almost completely absent. Hunting is strictly regulated to protect the remaining species.