The Plants;
Plants in the Tundra have many adaptations that allow them to survive the cold, harsh environment of the Arctic. The plants grow in clusters which protect them from the wind and cold (similar to the penguins’ strategy of survival), which helps limits the size of the individual plant, due to having to share nutrients. Some species of plants living in the Tundra have bright colored, dome shaped flower petals in which allow more sunlight to be absorbed and more heat to be retained. Many plants in the Arctic also have developed thick bristly hairs to aid in protecting them from the cold and wind, as well as wooly seed coats in order to keep the seed itself from being destroyed in the harsh cold of the tundra. The tropisms of these incredibly resilient and hardy plant species play a significant role in their survival. These Arctic plants have developed to grow underneath layers of snow, as well as performing photosynthesis while covered. They are able to do this because of the fact that the plant directs itself towards the sun, allowing as much as possible to pass through the layer of snow, allowing the plant to perform photosynthesis.