There are two species of vascular plants exist in Antarctica region: Deschampsia antarctica Desv., Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth.)Bartl. In addition to these species in the region entered the cosmopolitan one Poa annua (L). The uniqueness of both species makes them subject morpho-physiological and molecular biological research. All selected herbarium specimens are great importance because this region of the world is difficult to access.

The herbarium of Department of General and Molecular Genetics of National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv and Department of Cell Population Genetics of Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics NASU has 232 specimens of Deschampsia antarctica from Maritime Antarctica. C. quitensis submitted 89 samples, а Poa annua – submitted 10 samples of a single localites currently existing in the region - oases Arсtowski (map) (King George Island, South Shetland Islands(map)) .

All 3 species are represented as dry or wet (70% alcohol) samples.