Mary E. Barkworth, Julian J.N. Campbell and Bjorn Salomon
Culms 20–80 cm. Spikes 5–10 cm long, 0.5–0.8(1) cm wide, 2-sided; internodes 5–10 mm. Spikelets usually with the bases concealed. Glumes 9.5–13.5 mm, 1 vein scabrous over most of its length, the basal 1/4 usually smooth, the remaining veins scabrous or smooth, awned, awns 1.5–2 mm; lemmasawned, awns 2.5–10 mm, often curved.
Elymus trachycaulus subsp. virescens is restricted to Greenland. It is very consistent in its morphology.