Deschampsia antarctica
Encyclopedia
Deschampsia antarctica (Antarctic hair grass) is one of two flowering plants native to Antarctica, the other being Colobanthus quitensis
(Antarctic pearlwort).
They mainly occur on the South Orkney Islands
, the South Shetland Islands
and along the western Antarctic Peninsula
. A recent warming trend has increased germination, and thus number of seedlings and plants, also extending their range southward to cover larger areas. Reports indicate a twenty-fivefold increase in their number. This species extends south of 56 degrees south
latitude.
Colobanthus quitensis
Colobanthus quitensis is one of the two flowering plants found in the Antarctic region. It occurs on the continental edge, as well as the South Orkney Islands and the South Shetland Islands...
(Antarctic pearlwort).
They mainly occur on 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 ....
, 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...
and along the western Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica. It extends from a line between Cape Adams and a point on the mainland south of Eklund Islands....
. A recent warming trend has increased germination, and thus number of seedlings and plants, also extending their range southward to cover larger areas. Reports indicate a twenty-fivefold increase in their number. This species extends south of 56 degrees 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.