Antarctica is an ice-covered continent. Life forms normally found in other parts of the world are not found in the region. There atmosphere is not conducive for plants or trees to grow there. Can grass grow in such ice-covered places?
There is a kind of grass known as Antarctic hair grass in the region. It grows primarily in the rocky areas of the Antarctic Peninsula in small, concentrated tufts. These plants generally occur in penguin colonies. The Antarctic hair grass is a fine-leaved, perennial grass. This grass is one of two only flowering plant species living below latitudes of 60 degrees in the Antarctic. The leaf blades of the plant are folded when they are tender. However, as they grow, they develop into long, dark green, erect stems.
They have the ability to withstand high levels of disturbance without withering away. Antarctic hairs grass has a complex and deep root system that keeps them well anchored in their habitats. The roots allow them to absorb water and nutrients easily from their environment too. The grass withstands freezing temperatures during the wintertime by losing its long, slender green leaves. This phenomenon helps them stay alive, without drying away completely.
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