This largely midwestern segregate of purpurea differs in its narrower leaves, with L/W 3-7 (versus 1-3.2), which usually dry to a pale hue (versus uniformly darkening). Also, its calyx lobes are (3.5) 4-6.5 (7) mm long (versus 2-4.5 mm), and often broader at their base. It may be generally tetraploid, with 2n = 24 (versus 12 or 24); see Glennon & Church (2015). H. lanceolata occurs typically in open woods, fields, and rocky glades, usually on base-rich soils; whereas purpurea typically occurs in somewhat mesic woods or at edges, on acid soils. Clarification of segregates within the pupurea complex is needed. Terrell (1996) treated lanceolata as H. purpurea var. calycosa Gray, noting that it "intergrades with var. purpurea in many localities, particularly at the northern part of its range (e.g. in Illinois)." But he also noted: "Anyone observing var. calycosa in the cedar glades [of Ala. and Tenn.] is likely to be impressed with its distinctiveness there." In Ky., no more than 1-5% of colls. suggest transitions to pupurea. Other variants may deserve further study, including some unusually hairy plants within both purpurea and lanceolata, which may appear transitional to canadensis (with distinctly ciliate, persistent basal leaves). Some characters of lanceolata suggest that it is transitional from purpurea to canadensis, but its sepals are reported to be generally longer than both of these other species