Schistidium antarctici
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Subclass: Dicranidae
Order: Grimmiales
Family: Grimmiaceae
Genus: Schistidium
Species:
S. antarctici
Binomial name
Schistidium antarctici
(Cardot) L. Savic. & Smirn
Synonyms[1]
  • Grimmia antarctici Cardot
  • Grimmia antarctici var. percompacta E.B. Bartram
  • Grimmia antarctici var. antarctici

Schistidium antarctici is a species of moss found in Antarctica and subantarctic islands.[2] It lives in compact clumps that are yellowish green at the top and brownish black at the bottom. It grows on both soil and rocks.

In the Windmill Islands area of Wilkes Land, Schistidium antarctici is the most common bryophyte. If its habitat supplies ample moisture, it may form a "carpet-like" growth, but if its habitat is dry, it forms a short "cushion-like" growth.[3] It fruits abundantly on Signy Island and elsewhere in Northern maritime Antarctica.[4]

Each capsule of the moss produces between 250,000 and 520,000 spores, each 9.3 μm in diameter and with a volume of 143 μm3.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Schistidium antarctici (Cardot) L.I. Savicz & Smirnova". World Flora Online. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Taxon Profile: Schistidium antarctici". Australian Antarctic Data Centre. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  3. ^ Kappen, L.; R. I. Lewis Smith; M. Meyer (July 1989). "Carbon dioxide exchange of two ecodemes of Schistidium antarctici in Continental Antarctica". Polar Biology. 9 (7). Springer Berlin / Heidelberg: 415–422. doi:10.1007/BF00443227.
  4. ^ a b Investment in Sexual Reproduction by Antarctic Mosses P. Convey and R. I. Lewis Smith Oikos, Vol. 68, No. 2 (Nov., 1993), pp. 293-302]


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