Page:Polar Exploration - Bruce - 1911.djvu/98

94 the French Antarctic Expedition at Biscoe Bay, Anvers Island, in 64° 50′ S., 68° 40′ W., is very interesting, for this is the most southerly record for flowering plants known. Descampsia antarctica was also found by Dr. Turquet at Booth-Wandel Island, 65° 5′ S. It is extremely probable that further exploration will somewhat extend the range of these species." In 1910 Dr. Charcot's expedition in the Pourquoi Pas? found these two flowering plants as far south as 68° S. "Ferns are entirely wanting in the Antarctic, as was only to be supposed, but mosses are relatively abundant, and form almost the chief constituent of the flora. Collections of these are known from various points around the pole, including Graham Land, South Shetlands, South Orkneys, Wilhelm Land and Victoria Land, but those from the Atlantic and American sides are incontestably the richer, no doubt largely because of the nearer proximity of extra-polar land and consequent possibility of migration, but also to some extent because that side of the Antarctic regions has received more careful and serious exploration than any other." Dr. Jules Cardot, who has examined the mosses brought back by all the recent expeditions, places the total number of species at present known at about 51. Nearly 50 per cent. are endemic, while about 23 per cent, are found in Arctic Regions