Typical carolinensis (as opposed to plants in western North America and East Asia) is widely scattered across southeastern states, but common only within central and southern Appalachian regions (FNA 3). In Ky. it usually occurs along sandy banks of medium to large streams. West of the Appalachians, there are a few records from damp sandy flatwoods, rocky streambanks, and associated thickets or grassy edges. These disjunct populations are precarious, and may have disappeared. Price (1901) noted "common on the cliffs" along Bear Creek in EDMO (near the WARR line), just after the Green Rv. was dammed nearby at Lock No. 5; her coll. at MO (10 Jul 1901) was mapped by FNA 3. She had also collected the species from nearby in EDMO: "wet sandstone rocks, shade, Indian Creek" (11 Jul 1895). Both colls. are at Mo. Bot. Gard.