Colobanthus quitensis, also known as the Antarctic pearlwort, is one of two native flowering plants found in the Antarctic region. It has yellow flowers and grows about 5 cm tall, giving it a moss-like appearance. Due to climate change, the species has been spreading rapidly, particularly to areas outside of Antarctica.

Description

Colobanthus quitensis has yellow flowers and grows about 5 cm tall, with a cushion-like growth habit that gives it a moss-like appearance. It is an angiosperm, meaning that it is a plant that produces flowers. It relies on wind pollination because of the lack of bees and other pollinating insects in the Antarctic region. Although it is moss-like, Colobanthus quitensis is a tracheophyte, or vascular plant, meaning that it contains vascular tissues called the phloem and xylem.

Distribution

Colobanthus quitensis is found on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, on South Georgia, South Shetland, the Falklands, and the Andes, becoming increasingly rare northwards, but reaching Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, with a further isolated population in Mexico. It is one of two flowering plants native to Antarctica, the other being Deschampsia antarctica.

Climate change

Within Antarctica, due to climate change, 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. Research found that the Antarctic pearlwort spread nearly ten times faster during the period 2009 through 2018 compared to between 1960 and 2009. Although future climate change may relieve environmental stress and increase the plants ability to photosynthesize, warming may reduce the plants ability to resist freezing temperatures. Further research is being conducted to determine the effect of climate change on these plants.