This gladular-pubescent biennial (or short-lived perennial) is widespread across North America. S. alba (Mill.) E.H.L. Krause is closely related and often treated as a subspecies in Europe. In North America, intermediate plants predominate and the name latifolia takes precedent (FNA 5), but plants have often been named Lychnis alba Mill. in older literature. Another closely related, intergrading perennial species, S. dioica (L.) Clairville (= Lychnis d.), has been reported from Ky., but no coll. has been located (M). There has also been confusion in nomenclature with S. vulgaris (which is glabrous or with sparse short hairs), and in identification with S. noctiflora (which has smaller perfect flowers with 3 styles). The genus Lychnis is no longer recognized by most authors, but it has been distinguished as follows (F, W, Y; FNA 5): styles usually 5 (versus 3); capsule usually with 5 or 10 teeth (versus 3 or 6); calyx tubular at anthesis, but becoming strongtly inflated in some species (versus tubular or campanulate, not becoming strongly inflated except in vulgaris); plants usually dioecious or tending so (versus usually with perfect flowers).