Question

Why do mosses grow well in the Arctic tundra?

Answer 1

Te correct answer is that they do not have true roots.

The soil in the tundra is frozen to the surface most of the year and only the surface layer thaws in summer. The depth of the thaw will determine how far the roots of the plants will be able to deepen. That is why there are no trees in the tundra, since their roots cannot develop. Therefore, the mosses find their niche in these areas, since they do not have true roots, but rhizoids whose main function is the fixation to the substrate, and do not need more than a few millimeters deep for it. It is important to clarify that the vegetation in the tundra is of low height, squatted, since not only must they withstand low temperatures, but they must withstand strong blizzards. Mosses and lichens predominate in these areas.