Deschampsia antarctica

Deschampsia antarctica
Deschampsia antarctica
Antarctic hair grass
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Deschampsia
Species: D. antarctica
Binomial name
Deschampsia antarctica
E.Desv.

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, as well as it has extended 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.

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