This widely distributed, circumboreal species, is present in all regions of Italy. It grows in open, often trampled vegetation on wet and compacted clay soils, that is able to colonise thanks to the stolons, e.g. along the edges of ponds and marshes, along shores, in river beds and in uncultivated wet sites, from sea level to 2500 m. In the temporary ponds of Sardinia it is uncommon. The genus name, from the Greek 'agros' (field), in ancient Greek designated different Poaceae ; the species name comes from the Latin 'stolo' (shoot) and 'fero' (I bear), referring to the creeping stolons. Flowering period: May to August.

Italian name(s): Agrosti (Veneto, Verona), Agrostide a glume scabre (Italia), Agrostis stolonifera (Italia), Capellini (Toscana), Cappellini comuni (Italia), Caroli (Veneto, Valpantena), Carolo (Veneto, Valpantena), Erba cannetta (Liguria, Cicagna), Fienillo (Campania, Avellino), Grame (Friuli), Lionza (Piemonte), Pajana (Lombardia, Como), Pajetta (Lombardia, Como), Pinèl (Veneto, Monte Baldo), Ramignazzu (Calabria).