Colobanthus quitensis
Encyclopedia
Colobanthus quitensis (Antarctic pearlwort) is one of the two flowering plant
s found in the Antarctic
region. It occurs on the continental edge, as well as the South Orkney Islands
and the South Shetland Islands
. It has white flowers and grows about 5 cm (two inches) tall, with a cushion
-like growth habit that gives it a moss
-like appearance.
Due to a recent warming trend, more seeds are germinating, creating a large number of seedlings and plants. Reports indicate a fivefold increase in these plants, which have extended their ranges southward and cover more extensive areas, wherever found. This species extends south of 56° south
latitude. Deschampsia antarctica
(Antarctic hairgrass) is the only other native flowering plant in the region.
Botanical synonym
s include Sagina quitensis Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s found in the Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
region. It occurs on the continental edge, as well as the South Orkney Islands
South Orkney Islands
The South Orkney Islands are a group of islands in the Southern Ocean, about north-east of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. They have a total area of about ....
and the South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
. It has white flowers and grows about 5 cm (two inches) tall, with a cushion
Cushion plant
A cushion plant is a compact, low growing, mat forming plant that is found in alpine, subalpine, arctic, or subarctic environments around the world...
-like growth habit that gives it a moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
-like appearance.
Due to a recent warming trend, more seeds are germinating, creating a large number of seedlings and plants. Reports indicate a fivefold increase in these plants, which have extended their ranges southward and cover more extensive areas, wherever found. This species extends south of 56° south
56th parallel south
The 56th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 56 degrees south of the Earth's equatorial plane. No land lies on the parallel—it crosses nothing but ocean.Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 56° south passes through:...
latitude. Deschampsia antarctica
Deschampsia antarctica
Deschampsia antarctica is one of two flowering plants native to Antarctica, the other being Colobanthus quitensis ....
(Antarctic hairgrass) is the only other native flowering plant in the region.
Botanical synonym
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
s include Sagina quitensis Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth.