Final answer:
A cold and treeless plain with harsh conditions for survival is known as the tundra. The Arctic is a prime example, with perma frost making it difficult for diverse plant species to thrive and with weather playing a significant role in limiting the vegetative and animal life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for a cold and treeless plain where harsh conditions make it hard for plants and animals to survive is called tundra. The Arctic region is a well-known example of a tundra biome. In this biome, plants are unable to grow for much of the year because the soil is frozen, referred to as perma frost. The weather conditions, with cold temperatures and little precipitation, limit the vegetation to mostly low shrubs, mosses, and lichens, while animals are adapted to the harsh climate but their numbers are few due to the scarcity of food. The landscape of the tundra remains barren and it's difficult for diverse plant species to thrive, especially for those that are not adapted to such extreme cold conditions.