This is widely scattered on sandy soils across southern states, but mostly in Tex., La., Okl. and Ark.; 2n = 36 (FNA 5, W). It is known from banks of the Obed Rv. on the Cumlberland Plateau of Tenn. (Schmalzer et al. 1985; Ch). The only potential record from Ky. is Rafinesque's (1836, 3:41) description of his Plerostena serotina, which has been considered a synonym of Polygonella americana: "a small shrub 2 or 3 feet high woody only at the base... growing in fields and glades in Kentucky... flowers green 2 to 5 together on short peduncles." But it is possible that he was referring to Polygonum ramosissimum or prolificum instead (M)