This species has a broadly Mediterranean distribution extending up to southern Russia, and is present in Tuscany, Lazio, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily (not found since a long time in Campania); it includes the nominal subspecies, and subsp. bourgaei, the latter only present in Sardinia, Basilicata and Sicily. The life-cycle can be spent part in water, part on moist to dry soil. It grows in ponds and marshes, on muddy soils, from sea level to about 500 m. It is a characteristic species of Mediterranean temporary ponds, but in Sardinia, to date, it has been found only at Capo Sant'Elia. The genus name derives from the Greek 'damasónion', the name of an aquatic plant with leaves similar to those of Alisma, which in turn derives from 'damázein' (to tame), in reference to the supposed properties as an antidote against the venom of toads; the species name as well refers to the similarity to species of the genus Alisma; the subspecies is dedicated to the French botanist Eugene Bourgeau (1813-1877). Flowering period: April to May.

Italian name(s): Mestolaccia stellata (Italia).