These floating mats often support a rich array array of other plant life adapted to wet infertile conditions, including Sphagnum moss, Ericaceous shrubs, orchids and carnivorous plants.
Dr. Peter Lewin, a pediatrician at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and researcher in the field of paleopathology, led the team that Holowka was a part of, and notes that it is possible that Djedmaatesankh was infertile.
Fertility awareness methods (modern improvements over the rhythm method) are difficult to use, because many infertile days coincide with the ritually impure days of niddah.
The exposed and more infertile areas, particularly around the extreme south-west, consist largely of low growing native grasses such as the unusual buttongrass, heaths, and hardy melaleucas.