Pearlwort is a perennial with an active and short growing, blooming and seed developing period. It becomes inactive in winter. It tolerates extremely cold and dry conditions, and when frozen decreases photosynthesis to about 30-40% of its most active rate.
A blanket of snow aids in its photosynthesis. Its leaves are small, minimizing moisture loss, its root system shallow to support it in thawed ground, its cup-shaped flowers direct sunlight into the flower's center.
It grows in small, short clumps to protect it from wind, ice particles and cold. It produces is own 'uniform coverage of flavonoids' to protect it from UVB radiation in summer.
2 inches or 5cm
Pearlwort bloom when there is sunlight, and generally in the Antarctic Peninsula there is sunlight all year. There are periods when the sunset and the sunrise are close together -- summer, and this is when the Pearlwort is most successful in blooming.
Antarctic pearlwort and Antarctic hair grass
only some vegatation can be found such as fungi, moss,lichens and liverwort and some types of algae. There are two native vascular species of plant, the Antarctic Hairgrass and the Antarctic pearlwort
Antarctic pearlwort, a small flowering plant found in the Antarctic region, is primarily consumed by herbivorous animals such as the Antarctic krill and various grazing birds, notably the snow petrel and the Antarctic petrel. These animals rely on the limited vegetation available in the harsh environment, making Antarctic pearlwort an important food source for them. Additionally, some insects may also feed on this plant in its native habitat.
The Antarctic Pearlwort has many adaptations that it needs to survive. One behavioural adaptation that it has is that the Antarctic Pearlwort grows to each other, a strategy that helps it to resist the effects of cold weather and reduce damage caused by strong Antarctic winds
There are two species of flowering plants, both of which are found in the Antarctic Peninsula: Deschampsia antarctica(Antarctic hair grass) and Colobanthus quitensis (Antarctic pearlwort).
There are two species of flowering plants, both of which are found in the Antarctic Peninsula: Deschampsia antarctica(Antarctic hair grass) and Colobanthus quitensis (Antarctic pearlwort).
Antarctic pearlwort is the name of a short grass that grows on very small areas of the western side of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.From the Wikipedia entry: "Deschampsia antarctica(Antarctic hair grass) is one of two flowering plants native to Antarctica, the other being Colobanthus quitensis (Antarctic pearlwort)."
You can find flowering plants on every continent. There are two growing in Antarctica (Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort.
2 inches or 5 cm
There are no trees or shrubs, and only two species of flowering plants are found: Antarctic Pearlwort and Antarctic hair grass. These appear on the South Orkney Islands, the South Shetland Islands and along the western Antarctic peninsula.