This annual plant with an originally 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 ruderal environments, on the edge of roads, in landfills and construction sites, on walls, also in large urban settlements, between the cracks of the sidewalks, on clay soils rich in nitrogen compounds, from sea level to the montane belt. The species is found sporadically on the edge of the temporary ponds of Sardinia into contact with ruderal vegetation. The young leaves are edible. The genus name is derived from a Greek word which means 'soft', 'spongy', in reference to the weak, hollow stems; the species name is based on the Latin root 'oler' (vegetables), referring to the fact that the young leaves can be eaten in salads. Flowering period: March to September.

Italian name(s): Acciciora (Liguria, Montalto), Acciussola (Liguria, Porto Maurizio), Allattalepre (Toscana), Alminzone (Sardegna), Amingioni (Sardegna), Bardu mingione (Sardegna), Bardu pinzone (Sardegna), Camingioni (Sardegna), Cardedda (Sicilia), Cardedda d'invernu (Sicilia), Cardela (Liguria, Nizza), Cardella (Liguria, Bordighera), Cardella dumestega (Liguria, Dolceacqua), Cardellina (Liguria, Bordighera), Cascigni (Abruzzi, Aquila), Cascigno (Abruzzi, Larino), Cicerbita (Toscana), Cicerbita domestica (Toscana), Cicerbita liscia (Toscana), Craspein (Emilia-Romagna, Piacenza), Crencano (Veneto, Verona), Crespigna (Toscana, Pisa), Crespignolo (Toscana, San Sepolcro), Crespini (Abruzzi, Aquila), Crespino (Lombardia, Pavia), Crispigno (Campania, Napoli), Cuje (Piemonte, Visone), Devure (Liguria, Finalborgo), Galazza (Puglia, Otranto), Galazzo (Puglia, Otranto), Gardu minzone (Sardegna), Garzecc de rie (Lombardia, Brescia), Graminzone (Sardegna, Dorgali), Grespino comune (Italia), Ingrassamui (Veneto, Belluno), Ingrassamuli (Veneto, Verona), Laccianson (Liguria, Savona), Lacciussa (Liguria, Valle d'Arroscia), Lacciussola (Liguria, Valle d'Arroscia), Lacette (Liguria, Bardineto), Laciansun (Liguria, San Bernardo), Laciarò (Piemonte, Alessandria), Laciouin (Piemonte), Laciusa (Liguria, Chiavari), Laiciusso (Liguria, Diano), Laitassin (Piemonte), Laitiun (Piemonte), Laitosin (Piemonte), Latasein (Emilia-Romagna, Reggio), Latasin (Piemonte, Susa), Latesino (Veneto, Verona), Laticiul (Friuli), Latisul (Friuli, Carnia), Lattughe (Lombardia, Val Camonica), Lattuscione (Lombardia, Valtellina), Latusein (Emilia-Romagna, Reggio), Lettisioi (Veneto, Treviso), Limpora (Sardegna, Oristano), Negromoro (Veneto, Verona), Quarlatti (Liguria, Ponti di Nava), Scarsoe (Piemonte), Scarsoret (Piemonte), Scixerboa (Liguria, Genova), Scurzoere (Liguria, Ponti di Nava), Secone (Campania, Napoli), Serbixe (Liguria, Diano), Seserbde (Liguria, Sarzana), Sevone (Basilicata, Potenza), Simingioni (Sardegna), Sonco (Veneto, Verona), Sonco liscio (Toscana), Sonco oleraceo (Italia), Straccia cannarone (Campania, Napoli), Strugiun (Liguria, Mortola), Trunzo (Campania, Ischia), Zizercia salbedga (Emilia-Romagna, Romagna), Zonco (Veneto, Venezia), Zrabbsa (Emilia-Romagna, Bologna), Zugu (Calabria).