This is a southern Appalachian taxon that is rather little known, and W et al. have recently doubted its status as a species. It does appear distinct in Ky. Some relatively robust colls. below sandstone cliffs in se. Ky. that have been determined as communis are transferred here to amplisquama. C. amplisquama reportedly differs from typical communis as follows (FNA 23): generally broader leaves (mostly 2-5 mm versus 1-3 mm); inflorescences relatively long (usually 4-6 cm versus 2.5-4 cm) and pale (versus often purplish); relatively long basal bracts (often extending to the staminate tip versus up to half as long); perigynia with wider scales (>1.6 mm versus usually <1.6 mm) and perhaps longer teeth (usually >0.2 mm versus usually 0.1-0.2 mm).