This northeastern annual is concentrated near the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to Maine, and in parts of the Great Lakes region (K). It appears close to both lapathifolium (sharing somewhat nodding inflorescences) and pensylvanica (sharing 5 tepals that lack anchor-shaped veins). P. careyi differs from both in its stems, which are hirsute towards the base (versus glabrous); its ocreae, which have 2-7 mm bristles (versus none or <1 mm); and its leaf blades, which are more or less hirsute, especially on veins (versus glabrous or appressed-pubescent), and which lack distict dark marks (versus often present). Further verification in Ky. is desirable; the only records are colls. from BOON (KNK) and CAMP (APSC, KNK, NCU, USF), plus an unverified report from LINC (Gm).