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Difference between revisions of "Antarctica"
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==Plants== | ==Plants== | ||
About 298 million years ago Permian forests started to cover the continent, and tundra vegetation survived as late as 15 million years ago, but the climate of present-day Antarctica does not allow extensive vegetation to form. A combination of freezing temperatures, poor soil quality, lack of moisture, and lack of sunlight inhibit plant growth. As a result, the diversity of plant life is very low and limited in distribution. The flora of the continent largely consists of bryophytes. There are about 100 species of | About 298 million years ago Permian forests started to cover the continent, and tundra vegetation survived as late as 15 million years ago, but the climate of present-day Antarctica does not allow extensive vegetation to form. A combination of freezing temperatures, poor soil quality, lack of moisture, and lack of sunlight inhibit plant growth. As a result, the diversity of plant life is very low and limited in distribution. The flora of the continent largely consists of bryophytes. There are about 100 species of [[moss]]es and 25 species of liverworts, but only three species of flowering plants, all of which are found in the Antarctic Peninsula: ''Deschampsia antarctica'' (Antarctic hair grass), ''Colobanthus quitensis'' (Antarctic pearlwort) and the non-native ''Poa annua'' (annual bluegrass). Growth is restricted to a few weeks in the summer. | ||
===Other organisms=== | ===Other organisms=== | ||