Arctic Flora, Flowers & Lichen

Arctic Flowers and Lichen

When many people think of the tundra, they think of rock and barren landscape, devoid of life. In fact, even the name - tundra- comes from a Finnish word meaning "treeless." Though the summer season is short (often only 50 to 90 days) there are approximately 1,700 types of plants that grow in Canada's Arctic. This includes over 800 flowering varieties.

Because the permafrost prevents any deep-rooted plants from growing, the plants that do live here must be extremely adaptable to the harsh conditions. Flora such as mosses, grasses, heath, lichens and small shrubs abound. In the summer, the icy blanket melts away and quickly the ground is awash in red, pink, purple, green, yellow, and blue. The contrast from the stark white of winter is quick and dramatic.

Among the many plants, flowers and vegetation you can expect to see at Tukto Lodge, here are just a few:

Arctic Wildflowers

Alpine Arnica is from the daisy family and is often spotted on sunny slopes. A stem, ranging in height from four to 12 inches, supports the large yellow flower.

Alpine Bearberry is part of the Ericaceae family of plants and is a small dwarf shrub. Late in the summer, the leaves turn a stunning brilliant red. Smallish, white bell-shaped flowers appear before the leaves.

The Arctic Avens, also called the White Mountain Avens prefers a rocky environment, especially limestone. Small shiny leaves and a white flower with eight petals help identify the Arctic Avens, which flowers in late June and July.

The Arctic Poppy, also the territorial flower, flowers late June through to August. A cup-shaped solitary flower sits upon a stem approximately four to six inches high.

Purple Saxifrage, one of the three wildflowers on Nunavut's coat of arms is abundant throughout the Arctic. Purple saxifrage is one of the first to flower, and generally the plant 'colony' flowers at the same time, resulting in a carpet effect. Flowers last for approximately 10 to 14 days.

Arctic Lichens

Resilient, indestructible and often overlooked, lichens are the Earth's dominant vegetation, covering an estimated eight per cent of its terrestrial surface. Lichen can withstand extreme temperatures and have even survived at minus 460 degrees Fahrenheit, also called absolute zero. Lichens are extremely sensitive to air pollution and scientists use them as indicators of air quality.

Caribou depend on lichen for survival throughout the winter months. When the snow flies, various types of lichen form about 90% of their diet, and without it, the caribou would starve. Caribou can smell lichen below the snow and will dig craters to get to the food source, sometimes fighting over lichen patches.

One of the common lichens found in the Arctic are Xanthoria, bright orangey-red lichen, sometimes referred to as "Jewel Lichen." Another is Reindeer Moss, which is grey-green, sponge-shaped lichen.

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