This native southern weed occurs mostly on the Coastal Plain, Piedmont and Ouachita region (K, W). During recent years it appears to have become advantive at a few sites in Tenn, Ky., Mo., Ill. Ind. and Ohio. The only record from Ky. is an iNaturalist image from CARL in 2019: "taylorjoostein16", State Route 177, Arlington; 36.80279, -89.03572. The identification needs to be checked. Rafinesque (1836) listed Rumex integrifolia Raf., which might be interpreted as acetosa (M) or perhaps hastatula. A. hastatula differs from acetosella as follows (FNA 5, W): inner tepals at fruiting 2.5-3.2 mm long (versus 1.2-2 mm), much longer and wider than the achene (versus about as long and wide), with an expanded, accrescent wing that develops prominent reticulate veins (versus with minute or absent wing); pedicel jointed near its middle or base, well below the tepals (versus just below tepals); plants annual or short-lived perennials from a taproot (versus perennial from thin creeping rhizome). Reported 2n = 16, 18, 20 (versus 14, 28, 42).