This is a highly variable species across its range in east-central states, but taxonomic segregates have not been generally accepted. Some Ky. plants appear to have unusually rampant stolons with largely glabrous leaves, but may not be genetically distinct: e.g. colls. labelled "var. repens Simmers" from thin rocky woods in FRAN and OWEN at GH. Plants with unusually broad leaves (up to 5-6 cm wide), somewhat sharper serration, and more rounded bases, occur in relatively damp habitats of Kans., Okla., Mo., Ill. (GH) and reportedly Ky. (Cr). Plants with relatively long basal leaves may constitute another variant, associated with remnants of dry grassland. Rare hybrids with hirsuta do occur, but are not verified in Ky; some robust colls. from the Ozarks appear to combine the inflorescence of ciliata with the leaves and stems of hirsuta (at MO and AP). Similar plants may be locally distinct in c. Tenn. (A. Floden, pers. comm.). B. subnuda Simmers & Kral (1992; ?= B. brevipes Raf. 1836, 4:96) has been described from Ala. And probably occurs in Tenn. (Ch), but reports from Ky. And elsewhere have been erroneous. B. subnuda is intermediate between ciliata and hirsuta in some characters, but has calyx tubes puberulent with distinctively shorter hairs (< 0.6 mm), glabrate lower leaf surfaces, and glabrate lower stems.