Geothermal heat flow on Mount Melbourne has created an unique ecosystem formed by mosses and liverworts that grow between fumaroles, ice towers and ice hummocks. This type of vegetation is found at other volcanoes of Antarctica and develops when volcanic heat generates meltwater from snow and ice, thus allowing plants to grow in the cold Antarctic environment. These mosses are particularly common in an area known as Cryptogam Ridge within and south of the summit caldera; Cryptogam Ridge is a protected area.