The harsh Antarctic environment includes extreme conditions such as frequent darkness, minimal nutrients and running water, extremely high radiation in the summer and constant freezing temperatures during the winter. This "extreme plant" has therefore evolved in a number of ways in order to better adapt to its environment. [5]
Reproduction:
It is perennial and grows optimally during the warmer summer seasons. Since these seasons are very short though, it has developed a way to grow, bloom and develop seeds during summer, become inactive during the winter and then resume flower development and seed production the next spring. [1, 6, 7, 9]
Nutrients, Photosynthesis and Respiration:
Able to tolerate extremely cold/dry conditions
At freezing point, the rate of photosynthesis decreases to about 30-40% of the optimal (rate). Despite this, colobanthus quitensis is able to photosynthesize and respire at low temperatures and even at freezing point or underneath a blanket of snow.
Small leaves minimize the chance of losing moisture.
It has a shallow root system that reaches only the top layer of soil, as this is the only layer that thaws out.
Cup-shaped flowers help direct sunlight straight into the flower's center. [1, 3, 6, 9]
Protection:
It grows in small clumps, close together and near the ground to avoid damage from cold weather and/or any snow or ice particles blown by the wind.
As protection from the sun's intense radiation from during summer, the plant has a “uniform coverage of flavonoids” to guard it from UVB (ultraviolet) radiation. [4, 6, 9, 10]