This highly restricted endangered species is known from a cluster of sites in the Blue Licks area of Ky. (FLEM, NICH, ROBE), in cedar glades and adjacent old fields (Baskin & Baskin 1985, Baskin et al. 2000, Smith et al. 2004). Associates at the largest population include Lespedeza frutescens, Solidago nemoralis, Danthonia spicata, Salvia lyrata, Cercis canadensis, Cornus drummondii and Juniperus virginiana. S. shortii was also present on Rock Island at the Falls of the Ohio River (JEFF) during the 19th Century (Short 1842), and it has been recently rediscovered nearby along the Blue River in Harrison Co., Ind. (Homoya & Abrell 2005). Its habitats along these rivers are--or were--scoured rocky riverbanks, with species such as Baptisia australis, Desmanthus illinoensis and Hypericum sphaerocarpon. Orbexilum stipulatum, probably now globally extinct, was also closely associated at the Falls of Ohio. All of these localities were associated with intensive disturbance by bison or other large animals. However, the species (like gigantea) appears to be more palatable than altissima to deer (T. Littlefield, pers. comm.). Plants collected from Falls of the Ohio fall elargely within the range of variation exhibited by plants from the Blue Licks locality (Beck et al. 2001). But despite its rarity and uniform chromosome number (with 2n = 36), shortii displays considerable variation. Hybrids with altissima have been suspected (e.g. from ROBE at KY). but are dubious based on morphometric analysis. Its strong similarities to rupestris and gigantea also deserve further study. S. shortii differs from altissima in its glabrous leaves, and its fewer (5-7 versus 8-13), broader (0.6-1.2 mm versus 0.1-0.5 mm) ray florets; seeds (cyselae) tend to be larger (ca, 2-2.5 x 0.5 mm versus 0,5-1.5 x 0.3 mm), but the pappus is similar (Singleton 2017). Maximum height is only about 1.3 m (versus 2 m). Its rhizomes are relatively thick and less widely spreading, but plants have higher overall root-to-shoot ratios and have relatively deep roots, which enhances drought tolerance (Buchele et al. 1989, Baskin et aal. 2000). Plants respond well to NPK and flowering may decline as nutrients decline.