This distinctive diploid (2n = 20) is widespread across southeastern states, but with a fragmented range and largely restricted to relatively fertile soils. In Ky. it is scattered across western and south-central regions but generally uncommon and sporadic. An unusually large population in central Ky. occurs at the Buckley Hills Sanctuary in WOOD, where it appears to resist the intense deer browsing there. The segregated genus Fleischmannia may not be clearly separated from Eupatorium and Ageratina in some characters (FNA 21). Styles bases are usually glabrous (versus puberulent at base) and not enlarged (versus often enlarged or "stopper-shaped"). Flowers are usually pink-purplish (versus white) but sometimes whitish or bluish. There is no consistent difference in chromosome number. However, the only species in eastern states, F. incarnata, is easily identified by its pink-purple flowers, with ca. 18-24 per head, and by its triangular-deltate leaves with ca. 1-3.5 cm petioles; it is not rhizomatous (in contrast to Conoclinium coelestinum).