This widely scattered North American annual is probably just adventive in some southeastern states (W). In Ky. it may be native in some rocky or sandy glades and barrens of western regions. In Appalachian regions, it known only from a few sites along roads. In addition to its narrower leaves (ca. 1-3 mm versus 4-11 mm), hispida has smaller seeds, with more narrowly ovoid shape and glaucous areolate surface (W), as is typical of subgenus Saturejoides; 2n = 34 (versus 36).