This occurs locally on xeric to xerohydric, base-rich soils in or near southern sections of the Interior Low Plateaus, Ridge and Valley, and Piedmont (PL). In Ky. the species is largely restricted to drier habitats, but further south it is also known from seasonally damper sites, especially flatwoods on high terraces (often with Quercus phellos). Records from OHIO (Price 1901), TRIG (APSC) and FULT (CW) need verification, but the species is known from adjacent w. Tenn. (Ch). Although this taxon has often been treated as a variety of ovata, complete colls. show that it is distinct, without documented intermediates (W). C. carolinae-septentrionalis differs from ovata (FNA 3, W) in its generally smaller fruits, mostly 2.5-3 cm long (versus 3-4 cm); shorter staminate catkins, up to ca. 6 cm (versus 13 cm); but see notes on variation in ovata. Leaflets are generally narrower in shade (the terminal one ca. 2-5 cm versus 6-15 cm), and virtually glabrous (versus pubescent). Terminal buds (6-15 mm long versus 9-18 mm) and twigs (ca. 1-3 mm thick versus 3-6 mm) are less stout, virtually glabrous, maturing or drying to a blackish hue (versus more persistently hairy, brownish). Leafing-out dates are about two week earlier in N.Car. (W). With leaves and twigs alone, carolinae-septentrionalis is easily confused with glabra or ovalis, but it can be distinguished by the persistent subterminal tufts of hairs on serrations and the more blackish hue of dried material (W). Several colls. need to be rechecked, especially where there may have been hydridization.