This cinquefoil with a south European-Eurasian distribution has now become almost cosmopolitan in the temperate zones of the Globe, and is present in all regions of Italy. It grows in pioneer vegetation along roads and paths, on the edge of cultivated fields and gardens, in open marsh vegetations, on moist, silty-clayey, humic soils rich in nitrogen compounds and with a neutral to sub-acid reaction, from sea level to the montane belt. The species is rare in the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with hydric grasslands. The plant is rich in tannins and has astringent properties. The genus name is the feminine diminutive of the Latin 'potens' and means 'a small plant with a lot of force', perhaps referring to the stony habitats in which many species grow, or to their medicinal properties; the species name in Latin mean 'creeping', referring to the habit of the plant. Flowering period: May to September.

Italian name(s): Centofoglio (Toscana, Scandicci), Cincu idita (Sicilia), Cincu iditella (Sicilia), Cincufogghiu (Sicilia), Cinghefojje (Abruzzi), Cinquefoglia (Toscana), Cinquefoglia comune (Italia), Cinquefoglio (Toscana), Erba a singh foej (Piemonte), Erba calipetallo (Roma), Erba ciocchina (Piemonte, Saluzzo), Erba d' la sinchena (Piemonte), Erba de chimbe Fozas (Sardegna), Erba de cincu follas (Sardegna), Erba de la sincheno (Piemonte, Riclaretto), Erba de murenas (Sardegna), Erba mejella (Liguria, S. Bernardo), Erba pecorina (Toscana, S. Sepolcro), Erba pecorina (Italia), Erba rabloira (Piemonte), Erba sinchena (Piemonte), Erba sinchenna (Piemonte), Fraga salvadega (Veneto, Verona), Fragola selvaggia (Campania, Ischia), Fragolaria (Toscana), Fragolella salvaggia (Campania, Napoli), Fraulà areste (Sardegna), Fraulastra (Sicilia), Fravla mata (Emilia-Romagna, Reggio), Fravla salvadga (Emilia-Romagna, Reggio), Freule mate (Friuli), Frola sarvaja (Piemonte), Maggiostra selvadega (Lombardia, Brescia), Magiostreina (Emilia-Romagna, Piacenza), Man d' la Madonna (Emilia-Romagna, Romagna), Mani di Cristo (Puglia, Lecce), Mejella (Liguria, S. Bernardo), Merella sarvaega (Liguria, Montalto), Pè de pol (Lombardia, Brescia), Pendente (Friuli), Pentafilla (Sicilia), Pentafillo (Toscana), Potentilla strisciante (Italia), Quinquefoliu (Sardegna), Quinquefollu (Sardegna), Sich foe (Lombardia, Brescia), Sinch foei (Piemonte), Spillabuco (Toscana), Zenq' didi d' la Madona (Emilia-Romagna, Bologna), Zenq' foj (Emilia-Romagna, Romagna).