This tree of the high central Appalachians was reported from Ky. by DeFriese (1884) and Gm, but no colls. have been located. P. pungens does occur in s. W.Va. and w. Va., within 50 miles of Ky. (K). This species is closely related to P. rigida and P serotina Michx. of the Atlantic Coastal Plain (W; Gernandt et al. 2018). The cones of these species, especially pungens, are often serotinous, generally more so than other species of east-central states. P. pungens differs (FNA 2, W) in its cones, which have asymmetric base, broadly ovoid shape (versus ovoid, conic or lanceoloid), and umbos with stout downcurved sharp claws 3-8 mm long (versus more slender to weak prickles or absent). Also, its needles are usually in fascicles of 2 (versus 3) and only 3-7 cm long (versus 7-15 cm or more).