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Date 1

Antarctic Hair Grass

By Penelope Scarborough

Appearance

Appearance

I am studying the plant Antarctic Hair Grass, also known as its scientific name Deschampsia Antarctica.

Colour: Green

Size: 3-5 cm

Texture: Wispy

Leaves: Long & thin

Produces: Flowers

Conditions

Conditions

Antarctic Hair Grass grows among rocks, crevices and cracks in Antarctica.

Three extreme conditions in Antarctica are; the cold temperatures, the lack of sunlight, and the lack of rain.

Others include violent winds and snow.

These conditions make it very hard for a regular plant to survive and photosynthesize. However, Antarctic Hair Grass has adapted* well.

*see my Adaptations slide)

Antarctica reaches temperatures below zero degrees.

Antarctic Hair Grass has adapted to easily survive the extremely low temperatures and not die of cold.

A regular plant would get so cold it would develop ice crystals and freeze to death.

Cold Temperature

In Summer, the sun is out 24/7.

In Winter, there is no sunlight all day.

A regular plant would not survive, as it would need the sun for energy everyday.

Lack of Sunlight

Antarctica is a desert. This may be hard to believe because people consider deserts as 100 percent sand and 0 percent water. Most of them are, but so is Antarctica.

This means that there is barely any rain because precipitation falls as snow.

A regular plant would suffer tremendously, needing water on a daily basis.

Lack of Rain

Photosynthesis

Antarctic Hair Grass can photosynthesize easily in Summer. In Winter, they undergo a period of dormancy, where they simply sleep or 'hibernate'.

Since there is almost no rain, Antarctic Hair Grass has waxy leaves to obtain as much water as possible. Their roots are spread out to collect as much water as possible. They also spread seeds after living for two years, to repopulate / reproduce.

Process

Photosynthesis is the process of a plant converting Water, Carbon Dioxide, and Sunlight Energy into Glucose and Oxygen.

(H20 + CO2 + Sun = C6H1206 + 02)

Photosynthesis takes place in the Chloroplasts. They contains Chlorophyll, a chemical that makes plants green. It also obtains the Sun's Energy. The plant's roots collect Water which enter a cell called the Xylem, and Carbon Dioxide in the air enters the tiny openings called Stomata.

Once the three 'ingredients' are combined, they create glucose, the plant's food and energy. Oxygen is also created, but since it isn't needed, plants get rid of it and us humans breathe it in to survive. Therefore, photosynthesis is a vital process.

The Process

Adaptations

- Can survive temperatures below 0 degrees

- Can survive cold, harsh winds

- Grows in soil where another plant has died to gain its nutrients

- Grows in crevices or cracks to stay sheltered from wind and its two main predators; fur seals and penguins

- They sleep in Winter when there is not enough sunlight to photosynthesise

- In Winter it will freeze, but instead of forming large, harmful ice crystals, it forms very small ones to prevent cell damage

Adaptations

Bibliography

Bibliography

- https://6ljessantarctica.weebly.com/wildlife-and-plants.html

- http://www.arkive.org/antarctic-hair-grass/deschampsia-antarctica/

- https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/the-plants-of-antarctica

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deschampsia_antarctica

- http://lifeofplant.blogspot.co.nz/2011/12/antarctica-flora.html

- https:arcticpolarecosystems2012.weebly.com/the-antarctic-hair-grass-deschampsia-antarctica.html

- http://kids.britannica.com/students/assembly/view/184096

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