This annual grass with an almost cosmopolitan distribution in warm areas is present in all regions of Central and Southern Italy, in Emilia-Romagna, Liguria and Veneto; the species is very common in Mediterranean Italy, while elsewhere it behaves as an ephemeral weed. It grows in openings of garrigue vegetation and in clearings of Mediterranean maquis, from sea level to the hill belt. The species is sporadic in the outer belt of the Sardinian temporary ponds. The inflorescences are often used in dried flower arrangements. The genus name designated a cereal by the ancient Greeks; the species name refers to the size of the spikelets, which are smaller than those of other congeneric species. Flowering period: April to May.

Italian name(s): Brillantina (Toscana), Briza minore (Italia), Ciancianeddi picciriddi (Sicilia), Cuffiteddi picciriddi (Sicilia), Erba brillantina (Toscana), Pajana moschina (Lombardia, Como), Pendenti d'argento (Puglia, Lecce), Pinnacchietti (Sicilia, Etna), Sonaglini minori (Italia).