Very few Plants |
There are very few plants that grow in Antarctica. The only plants that grow are, Aglae, Mosses, Lichens, and some wildflowers. All these plants grow only in the summer. Few plants grow in Antarctica because it is very cold. Plants need sunlight to survive. Without sunlight, they will die. Antarctica is dark for half the year. So plants can’t get the sunlight they need to live.
Algae
Algae is one of the few plants that grow in Antarctica. Algae can grow in Antarctica because it does not need sunlight to grow. Actually, this type of algae grows into the snow. But like the other plants, algae only grows in the summer. Since it grows into the snow, it’s bright perennial pink, colors the snow pink! Some people even call the snow, watermelon snow.
Moss
Moss is another plant that grows in Antarctica. Like algae, it only grows in the summer. It also rarely rains in Antarctica so moss does not need water to grow in Antarctica. Where moss grows is on top of swampy plains. So, it feels like it grows on a swamp. Moss usually grows on trees when it is in a hot humid area. But there are no trees in Antarctica, so instead of trees, it grows on swampy plains.
Lichens
Lichen is a lucky plant to be growing in Antarctica! Like most plants in Antarctica, it only grows in the summer. Did you know that it shares a partnership with algae? It sounds crazy but it’s true. Also like moss, it grows on a swampy plain. Lichen actually grows on a rock. It can come in different colors but mostly orange. So that means, there are rocks on top of moss and a swampy plain!
Wild Flowers
You might think that a flower could never grow in Antarctica. But, there are some flowers that grow there. Arctic poppies can turn their heads toward the Sun for warmth. Can you imagine a flower turning its head? Another flower, called Heathers, grow underground and get water underground. Imagine stepping on flowers. Plus they are underground! Flowers in Antarctica protect themselves from freezing by growing close to the ground. But since there is not Sunlight all year long, they too, only grow in the summer.