This species with a southern Mediterranean distribution is present in Sardinia, Lazio, Puglia, and Sicily. The life-cycle can be spent part in water, part on moist to dry soil. It grows in ephemeral ponds flooded only in winter, below the lower montane belt, with optimum in the Mediterranean belt. It is a characteristic species of Mediterranean temporary ponds, commonly found in Sardinia but indicated in the IUCN regional Red List as an endangered species (Conti et al., 1997). The genus name is of uncertain etymology: it could derive from the Greek 'eryngion' (hedgehog) or 'eryma' (defense), in both cases alluding to the strong prickliness of the plant; the species is dedicated to the Dominican monk and botanist Jacques Barrelier (1606-1673). Flowering period: May to June.

Italian name(s): Calcatreppola di Barrelier (Italia).