Based on the collections of vegetation from 14 sites by line transects in the Schirmacher oasis (SO) of east Antarctica, a total of 24 species consisting 12 species of lichens, 7 species of algae and 5 species of mosses were recorded. The algal flora consists mainly of phytoplanktonic groups dominated by blue green algae cyanobacteria such as Oscillatoria limosa and Phormidium fragile. Only one green alga (Chlorococcum) was found in the present transect study. Rare occurrence of green algae and dominance of blue green algae in the SO suggests that cyanobacterial species are better adapted to the prevailing extremities of climatic conditions of Antarctica. Bryum argenteum dominated the moss species and Acarospora gwynnii dominated the lichens. The plant community of the SO is heterogeneous in character, where none of the species approach 80-100% constancy, suggesting an unsuitable habitat for any species to occur homogeneously. The heterogeneity of vegetation can be linked to microenvironments of the oasis, which might have provided a little congenial condition for growth, both spatially and temporally during the austral summer. The estimated standing crop (dry weight) or biomass per square meter of SO varies from 6.25 to 45.31 g m-2 in various study sites and the average value is 22.5 g m-2.
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