This annual grass with an originally Eurasian-south European distribution has now become almost cosmopolitan in temperate parts of the Globe and is present in all regions of Italy, with several subspecies. It grows in mowed grasslands with Arrhenatherum and in dry meadows, on clay soils which are rather dry but not really arid in summer, rather rich in nitrogen compounds, from sea level to the montane belt. The species is sporadic in the outer belt of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with ruderal vegetation. The genus name, from the Greek 'broma' (food), was mentioned by Theophrastus for a grass used for food; the species name means 'similar to barley'. Flowering period: May to July.

Italian name(s): Biaa salvadega (Lombardia, Brescia), Biada matta (Lombardia, Como), Biada selvadega (Lombardia, Como), Biava servaja (Piemonte), Biavass (Piemonte), Biavete (Piemonte), Bromo peloso (Italia), Erba candela (Veneto, Belluno), F' narola (Emilia-Romagna, Bologna), Fenu (Sicilia, Etna), Forasacco a spighe piccole (Italia), Forasacco peloso (Toscana), Forasacco peloso (Italia), Paglione (Lombardia, Como), Paleo peloso (Toscana), Spigolina (Toscana), Ventulan (Emilia-Romagna, Reggio).