Spikelets all bulbiferous, or some normal and some bulbiferous. Anthers aborted late in development or not developed. 2n = 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33.
Poa alpina subsp. vivipara grows at scattered locations in Greenland, and has been reported for Alaska. It is common in alpine regions of northern and central Europe.