An early illustration of the species under its previous name Aira antarctica
Deschampsia antarctica mainly occurs on the South Orkney Islands, the South Shetland Islands, and along the western Antarctic Peninsula.[2]Deschampsia antartica distribution largely depends on the area's nutrient supply of the soil and its water distribution.[3]Deschampsia antarctica has been recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records as the southernmost flowering plant. In 1981, a specimen was found on the Antarctic Peninsula's Refuge Islands at a latitude of 68°21′S.[4][5] Since 2009, both D.antarctica and C. quitensis have been spreading rapidly, which studies suggest has been the result of rising air temperatures and a reduction in the number of fur seals.[6]
In Antarctica, the plant can be found forming low clumps in wet, protected habitats.[2]
