This biennial species, as the typical southeastern var. polygama, is known from several sites in MCRE (KY), and from Gritter Ridge in POWE (D. Dourson, pers. comm.). It appears to be a remnant of open grassy oak-pine woodland on submesic fo subxeric sites (but not xeric rocky sites); it survives mostly along road, paths and powerlines. Also, Rafinesque (1819) reported the species from "barrens" in Ky. but no colls. are known from there. The northeastern var. obtusata Chodat might also be expected in the state; its main range extends down the Alleghenies to southern W.Va. and central Va. However, there is a gap in the known range of this whole species from western Va. and across northern N.Car. to the Atlantic coast (F, K).