This largely midwestern species of wet meadows, fens and streambanks is rare in southeastern states (Ray 1956, W), where replaced locally in Ala. and Ga. by the related species, S. gramineum Greene. The few Ky. records of quadriflora are mostly old and obscure, from BATH (or perhaps ROWA, based on M's interpretation of a Short & Peter coll. at PH from "Licking River" area), JEFF (C.W. Short at PH, from "slate bluff below Louisville"), and MCRE (Rogers 1941). In Tenn. it is known only from Bradley Co. (TENN). L. quadriflora can be confused with hybrida (see notes there), but has less distinctly veined sepals; also, narrower leaves (2-7 mm versus mostly 5-20 mm), with more tapering base and no distinct petiole, more prominent mid-vein but less distinct secondary veins, and smooth revolute margins (versus scabrellous to ciliate, not revolute).