In Ky. this largely northeastern species is verified only from the Cumberland Mountains. There may also be a coll. from EDMO (BUT) to be checked: by "B.B.M . #707. 10 Jul 1940, Bruce Hollow, Mammoth Cave." S. puberula has often been confused with other pubescent species in the erecta group. Hairs on stems, in particular, are relatively dense and minute, unlike the longer looser hairs of hispida or bicolor. Without flowers plants are sometimes also confused with nemoralis, but they can usually be distinguished by their basally disposed leaves, and by their stems with more soft, curled hairs: "puberulent" versus "short canescent, hairs ascending to appressed" (FNA 20). Previous records from ESTI, MONT and elsewhere have been based on misidentifications; those from ELLI, LESL and ROWA are not been checked, and may be doubted (M). S. puberula and the closely related S. roanensis differ from the hispda / erecta / speciosa group as follows (W): phyllaries linear-lanceolate, attenuate, tapering to a pointed or minutely rounded tip (versus ovate to lanceolate, acute to obtuse or rounded). Both of these species also have relatively elongate paniculiform inflorescences with ascending branches (versus often more spreading or compound).