This annual plant with a Mediterranean-Turanian distribution is present in all regions of Italy except Trentino-Alto Adige, but is more common in the central and southern regions. The life-cycle can be spent part in water, part on moist to dry soil. It grows in uncultivated arid sites and in waste places, even on salty soils, from sea level to about 800 m. The species is sporadic on the edge of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with ruderal vegetation. The plant, with a strong smell that is unpleasant to herbivores, seem to possess antimicrobial properties. The genus is dedicated to the German botanist Manfred Dittrich (1934-), a specialist in Asteraceae; the species name refers to the strong odour emanating from the leaves. Flowering period: August to October.

Italian name(s): Brucara picciridda (Sicilia), Brucaredda (Sicilia), Cecapesce (Abruzzi), Ceppica (Toscana, Orcia), Ceppita (Toscana), Cespita (Toscana), Cicutaja (Toscana, Orcia), Coda di volpe dei fanelli (Roma), Dittrichia puzzolente (Italia), Erba per le soemeghe (Lombardia, Brescia), Erba pudescia (Sardegna), Erba pudida (Sardegna), Falichi (Toscana), Fulida (Toscana), Naschetta (Liguria, Chiavari), Prucastra (Sicilia, Modica), Pulicaredda (Sicilia).