There are many peculiar whirling dust clouds all about. El explains that the ionosphere is very thin which leaves the surface almost unprotected from the various beta, gamma and cosmic rays. This high concentration of rays ionizes the very rare and gaseous atmosphere and together with the thermal currents, creates terrific dust storms. There is also a very thinly divided dust layer on the ionosphere which helps create the reddish appearance of the planet. It was also explained that as Mars has only seven degrees axis inclination there is not much of a seasonal change.
Vegetation is also scarce.
There are a few varieties of prickly-cacti looking plants. Also near the polar ice caps, grows a very luxuriant green alga-like plant that follows the melting snow line. It appears and disappears with the season as it grows tremendously rapidly, and it also disintegrates very fast. The guide tells me these are mutants which were accidently produced from a small ant in an atomic experiment ages ago. They are similar to humans in a very low state of intelligence and at one time it became necessary to make war on them, as they became so numerous and large.