Nomenclature has been muddled; see notes under stolonifera. This species has a largely midwestern range, and typically occurs in Ky. on rocky river banks or cobble bars with rheophytic vegetation. But obliqua has also been widely planted (as "silky dogwood") along smaller streams and uplands for supposed restoration or other "landscaping" projects. There may be local intergradation with amomum, especially in northeastern regions (see notes under that name). Occasional hybrids have also been suspected elsewhere with stoloniferum, , drummondii or racemosa (W, Y), but such plants are not well-documented in Ky. C. obliquum differs from amomum in its leaves, which have strictly appressed rigid hairs (versus appressed rigid plus erect curling), and narrower shape (L/W of blades mostly 2.5-3.5 versus 1.5-3), with more narrowly cuneate bases (versus rounded to truncate or broadly cuneate), and less reddish coloration. Lower surfaces in drier or sunnier sites are usually "coronulate" with whitish papillae (Hardin & Murrell 1997), but (as in Fraxinus) this character is obscure to absent in damper or shadier sites. The largest leaves (on vigorous sprouts) tend to be smaller, especially in width (ca. 9-14 x 4-6.5 cm versus 10-17 x 7-9.5 cm). Twigs tend to become more purplish in their first year (versus often remaing green). Plants tend to be smaller and more spreading, usually no more than 2-3 m tall (versus 3-4 m).