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The cold climate of the Antarctica continent has inhibited the formation and growth of a variety of Antarctica plants. All vegetation of Antarctica is resistant to the extreme cold weather conditions.
Antarctica plants belong to the lower order of plant groups. The growth and proliferation of higher plant orders are stunted by the extreme cold climate of the place. Other geological factors affecting plant growth is the absence of sunlight, moisture less environment and degraded soil quality. The plants of Antarctica are also inhibited by the permanent covering of ice and snow encasing the continent. The plants in Antarctica cover less then 1% of the total land space of the continent. A majority of ice free land exists along the Antarctic Peninsula and on the coastal regions of the continent. The islands surrounding the continent also contain many species of plant.
Plant life in Antarctica consists of only two species of flowering plants. The two species of flowering plants include the Antarctic pearlwort and Antarctic hair grass. The vegetation is characterized by the presence of plant groups belonging to the lower order of plant classification. The vegetation includes plant species like fungi, liverworts, mosses and lichens. These plant species can survive extreme low temperatures and its associated dehydration.
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