This sub-cosmopolitan weed is present in all regions of Italy. It grows in ruderal, strongly disturbed, often trampled sites, such as along roads, in vineyards and cultivated fields, where is can become a pest, in the cracks of paving stones, on sandy to clayey, sometimes even saline soils which are dry in summer, below the lower montane belt. The species is sporadic in the outer belt of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with ruderal vegetation. The plant is still used for the preparation of infusions with diuretic effects. The genus name is derived from two Greek words: 'kyon' (dog) and 'odon' (tooth), perhaps due to the appearance of the spikelets; the species name, from the Greek 'daktylon' (finger), refers to the shape of the inflorescence, resembling a hand with many fingers. Flowering period: June to September.

Italian name(s): Cannajoni (Sardegna), Capriola (Toscana), Capriola (Italia), Cornajoela (Lombardia), Cynodon (Italia), Dente di cane (Italia), Denti de can (Liguria, Savona), Erba canina (Toscana), Erba canina (Roma), erba grigoa (Liguria, Isoverde), Ereminzu (Sardegna, Cagliari), Gramagna (Italia), Gramagna (Liguria, Ponti di Nava), Grame (Friuli), Gramegna (Campania), Gramegna (Liguria, Genova), Gramegna (Veneto), Gramegna (Lombardia, Brescia), Gramegna (Italia), Gramegnon (Liguria, Pontedecimo), Gramene (Sardegna, Nuoro), Gramiccia (Roma), Gramigna (Toscana), Gramigna comune (Italia), Gramigna di cavaddi (Sicilia), Gramigna pei cavalli (Calabria), Gramigna rampicante (Italia), Gramigna rossa (Liguria, Pontedecimo), Gramon (Piemonte), Gramone (Liguria, Noli), Gramoun (Liguria, Nizza), Gramun (Piemonte, Val S. Martino), Jerbe salegne (Friuli, Carnia), Lissa (Liguria, Cogorno), Monberta (Liguria, Noli), Nise (Friuli), Pabol rampighi (Lombardia, Brescia), Peste de' campi (Puglia, Lecce), Piè di pollo (Liguria, Isoverde), Ramaccia (Abruzzi), Ramaccia (Italia), Ramaccia (Umbria), Ramegna (Abruzzi), Ramigna (Italia), Ramigna (Sicilia), Ramina (Italia), Ramine (Sardegna), Raminzu (Sardegna), Sanguinella (Marche), Sanguinella (antichi), Unziu (Liguria, Ponti di Nava).