This is the Appalachian segregate of a widespread circumboreal species-complex: S. racemosa L., sensu lato. Within the southern Appalachians, it occurs mostly in or near the Blue Ridge, but there are also small disjunct populations on the Appalachian Plateaus from Tenn. to Ohio (K). In Ky. the only verified records are from HARL (EKY) and MENI (KY). Reports of Linney (1880, 1882) and to Gm from several other counties remain dubious. The species remains locally frequent on Black Mountain in HARL at 1000-1200 m above sea level. However, the disjunct plants in MENI have been hard to relocate, and they may be confined to deep sandstone ravines in one locality of the upper Red River Gorge.