[2] Its native range is the subarctic (such as Greenland), to temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

From (Europe within; Finland, North European Russia, Norway and Sweden,) to Asia within (Japan, Kamchatka, Kuril Islands, Magadan and Taiwan,) and in North America (within the Canadian provinces of; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Québec and Yukon and within the USA states of; Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming,) and also southern South America (within Argentina and Chile).

[2] The genus name of Vahlodea is in honour of Jens Vahl (1796–1854), a Danish botanist and pharmacist.

[3] The Latin specific epithet of atropurpurea means "dark-purple coloured".

Beauv.,[6][7] but a 2007 molecular phylogenetic study supported the recognition of Avenella and Vahlodea.