See Abbott (2011) for revival of the genus, Polygaloides (= Polygala section Chamaebuxus), which has 5-6 species in Europe and north Africa plus thiis species in North America. P. pauciflora is a rhizomatous plant of cool mesic woods in northeastern regions, and it extends south along the Appalachians, mostly at moderate to high elevations (W). It was reported from Ky. by McFarland (1942), without details. The only known site is in LAUR (BEREA), discovered by R. Mears during 1992 (Campbell et al. 1994). P. pauciflora is also expected in ravines along the Big South Fork, since it is locally common along the Clear Fork in Morgan Co., Tenn. (J. Kiser, pers. comm.) and elsewhere on the Cumberland Plateau in Tenn. (Ch, K).