Elymus mollis Trinius in Sprengel, Neue Entdeck. Pflanzenk. 2: 72. 1821; E. arenarius Linnaeus var. coreensis Hackel; E. arenarius subsp. mollis (Trinius) Hultén; E. arenarius var. mollis (Trinius) Koidzumi; E. mollis var. coreensis (Hackel) Honda; Leymus arenarius (Linnaeus) Hochstetter subsp. mollis (Trinius) Tzvelev; Triticum molle (Trinius) F. Hermann.

Culms solitary or tufted, 30–80 cm tall, smooth, glabrous, but puberulent below spike. Leaf sheath longer or shorter than internode, glabrous; ligule 1–2 mm; leaf blade usually rolled, 10–15 × 0.4–0.7 cm, stiff, abaxial surface smooth, adaxial surface slightly scabrous. Spike 9–15 × 1–1.5 cm; rachis robust, puberulent; internodes 6–10 mm. Spikelets (1 or)2 or 3 per node, 1.5–2 cm, with 2–5 florets; rachilla puberulent. Glumes covering only base of lemma, oblong-lanceolate, 12–20 × 2–2.5 mm, 3–5-veined with keel-like midvein, puberulent, margin membranous. Lemma lanceolate, 5-veined, puberulent, apex mucronate; first lemma 12–14 mm. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, ciliolate along keels. Anthers 5–6 mm. Fl. and fr. May–Aug. 2n = 28.

Coastal pebbles and sands. Hebei, Liaoning, Shandong [Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia; N North America].