World's driest desert unexpectedly covered in flowers: rare photos

Flowering desert

About 11 millimeters of rain fell in mid-April, and that rain, combined with morning mist, stirred up vegetation that can lie dormant for up to 15 years. Some of the first species to grace the landscape this year were pata de guanaco (Cistanthe grandiflora), with its bright fuchsia flowers, and white field sighs (Nolana baccata).

Cesar Pizarro, director of biodiversity conservation and scientific research at the National Forest Service in Atacama, said the rare winter bloom is currently occurring in an area of 300 to 400 square kilometers.
The desert’s full bloom, which occurs in spring (September to October) thanks to winter rains, can spread over an area of about 15,000 square kilometers, where more than 200 species of plants bloom.

Usually, desert flowers bloom in spring (when we experience autumn in the Northern Hemisphere) if there is at least 15 millimeters of rain before that. This is often associated with the El Niño phenomenon, which increases rainfall above average in Chile. In March 2015, rains stimulated vegetation in winter, just as they do now. Then rain fell from June to August, so the desert was once again filled with flowers in spring.

Atacama Desert blooms in mid-winter
The Atacama Desert bloomed in the middle of winter / Photo: César Esteban/Pizarro Gacitúa

The Atacama desert’s rare winter flowers are not without their problems. The most important of these, according to Maria Fernanda Pérez, a professor of ecology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, are: Pollinators do not arrive as quickly as plants respond to rain.

When the seed germinates and flowers but pollinators do not arrive, the seed is exhausted.
he told reporters.

Due to cooler than normal temperatures, there are currently no bees, butterflies, beetles or other pollinators, with only ticks and a few reptiles, birds and mammals seen.

Herbaceous plants, such as those blooming in the Atacama Desert, have a self-pollination mechanism that kicks in when pollinators are not available in a given year, but this backup option appears at the end of flowering.

Atacama Desert blooms in mid-winter
The Atacama Desert bloomed in the middle of winter / Photo: César Esteban/Pizarro Gacitúa

With climate change, abnormal events like this year’s winter blooms could become more frequent, potentially meaning annuals won’t be able to thrive. According to scientists, only bulbous plants will remain in the blooming desert, drastically reducing diversity or making room for invasive species.

Atacama Desert blooms in mid-winter
The Atacama Desert bloomed in the middle of winter / Photo: César Esteban/Pizarro Gacitúa

Source: 24 Tv

Maurice

I’m Maurice Knox, a professional news writer with a focus on science. I work for Div Bracket. My articles cover everything from the latest scientific breakthroughs to advances in technology and medicine. I have a passion for understanding the world around us and helping people stay informed about important developments in science and beyond.