Published in Aiton, W.T. Hortus Kew., ed. 2, 4: 110. (1812).
The native range of this species is Europe to Central Asia and Arabian Peninsula, Macaronesia, N. & NE. Tropical Africa. It is a perennial or helophyte and grows primarily in the temperate biome. It is used to treat unspecified medicinal disorders, has environmental uses, as a medicine and for food.