Broadly defined, this diploid (2n = 18) is widespread across northeastern states, adjacent Canada, locally in the northern Great Plains and Rockies, but it is rare to absent on most of the southeastern Coastal Plain (K, Nesom 2021a). However, plants named S. graminifolia var. media (Greene) S.K. Harris have proved to be conspecific with gymnospermoides (Y). In its broad sense, graminifolia is distinguished from congeners in eastern North America as follows (Cr, W; FNA 20, Nesom 2021a,b): mid-stem leaves mostly 5-12 mm wide (versus 1-6 mm), with 3-5 prominent nerves (versus 1-3 or less clearly 5); punctae on upper leaf surface relatively obscure (versus often bold or pustular); heads mostly with 10-40 flowers (versus 5-20). Further study of variation is needed. Virtually all colls. from Ky. are referable to the relatively robust and hairy var. nuttallii (Greene) Fern. (F), which is concentrated in midwestern states and along the Atlantic Coast. That taxon is not recognized in most recent treatments (FNA 20, Y, W), but Nesom (2021a,b) has recently treated it as a distinct species, E. lanceolata (L.) Nesom. It differs from typical graminifolia, which is generally more northern, as follows: stems and leaves hirtellous to hirsutulous, especially along the veins (versus glabrous except for "occasional scabrous lines" (F)); involucres 3.6-4.2 mm high (versus 4-5 mm); ray flowers (11)15-27(35) versus (9)13-20. Nesom (2021a) indicated that graminifolia sensu stricto occurs in s. W.Va. and w. Va. close to Ky., but he did not map it at all in Ky., Ohio, Ind. or Ill. A coll. mapped here from BULL (KY) may match typical graminifolia, and W (2015 draft) had previously reported that taxon from across Ky. A more comprehensive review of colls. is needed; Nesom did admit that some intergradation may occur, especially in New England.