Published in Ess. Agrostogr. 8, 165, 177, t. 5, fig. 1. 1812 (E. A. Raeuschel, Nomencl. bot. 10. 1797, nom. nud.)
The native range of this species is Medit. to Africa and Afghanistan. It is a perennial or rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the temperate biome.