Plant Life Regrew After the Flood

Creationists believe that the approximate one-year long Genesis Flood was the most catastrophic event in the history of the world that humans experienced. Animals were needed to be preserved on the Ark as it would be impossible for them to survive the raging floodwaters. Plant life, however, was likely not necessary to preserve in the ark because most of it could regrow after the floodwaters receded. Despite a large amount of plant life being destroyed during the flood, as evidenced by coal deposits, the seeds likely remained and floated on top of plant rafts during the catastrophic flood. As the waters receded, the plant raft remains were likely returned to land and seeds were redeposited and eventually regrew. Seeds that were buried in flood sediment also likely regrew after the flood waters receded. Drainage by rivers and smaller streams would also likely redistribute seeds and plant nutrients after the flood throughout continental lands. Some question the ability of plants to regrow in the presence of large amounts of salty seawater, however Whitcomb and Morris (1) explain that the floodwater would likely have been less salty than today’s oceans and the addition of the flood water from the 40 days of rainfall would have diluted the salty waters even more. The subterranean source of floodwaters from the “fountains of the deep” would also reduce the salt content of the floodwaters. In the more than 4,500 years since the Flood, runoff deposits from rivers into the oceans have increased the salt content to today’s level, implying that the Genesis Flood waters must have been less salty than today’s oceans. It is also interesting to note that some landscapes on earth have a lack of plant life or a lack of certain types of plant life. Arid and desert regions have little plant life while some regions of the earth have few trees. Plant life likely regrew after the flood in patches as seen with the variety and quantity of distribution of plant life on earth today. Some plant life is also more resistant to water than others as bald cypress trees grow in standing water easily across the world today in swamp-like conditions.

(1) Whitcomb, J. C., & Morris, H. M. (1961). The Genesis Flood: The Biblical record and its scientific implications. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co. (p.70).