This species with a southern European-Eurasian distribution, of ancient introduction near the limits of its present distributional range, is present, with two subspecies, in all regions of Italy. It grows in ruderal vegetation along roads and railways, in landfills, quarries, often in settlements, on disturbed, gravelly to clay, subarid soils poor in humus and nitrogen compounds. The species is sporadic on the edge of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with ruderal vegetation. The Flemish botanist R. Dodoens (1517-1585) reported a legend in which Nicander and Alcibiades, bitten by a viper, healed the wound by applying a Echium after having chewed it, hence the Italian name 'viper grass' (erba viperina). The genus name derives from the Greek 'echis' (snake), perhaps because of the shape of the inflorescence, that is curved like the head of a snake; the species name comes from the Latin 'vulgus' (common people) and means 'common, widespread, frequent'. Flowering period: April to September.

Italian name(s): Alcibiade (antichi), Borragin selvatich (Lombardia, Pavia), Buglossa (Veneto, Verona), Buglossa salvatica (Toscana), Burassina (Piemonte), Dente di cane (Toscana, Scandicci), Echio volgare (Italia), Erba d'a Madonna (Liguria, Cicagna), Erba da rogna (Liguria, Valle d'Arroscia), Erba de freve (Liguria, Valle del Bisogno), Erba p' losa (Emilia-Romagna, Piacenza), Erba rogna (Toscana, Montespertoli), Erba serpentina (Liguria, Mignanego), Erba terrestre (Toscana, S. Sepolcro), Erba vepra (Emilia-Romagna, Romagna), Erva vipirina (Sicilia), Lingua buona (Liguria, Bordighera), Lingua di bove (Toscana), Lingua di cane (Toscana), Lingua uina (Sicilia, Etna), Samarech (Sicilia), Scercia salvadega (Lombardia, Brescia), Sucameli (Sicilia), Viperina azzurra (Italia), Viperina comune (Italia), Zampe de crava (Liguria, Montalto).