This is widespread in open base-rich wetlands across eastern and central North America. It is also widespread in Eurasia, where it is often conidered native (FNA 24; Flora of China 22; brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/).The closely related pantropical species, L. hexandra Swartz, may be expected in more hydroxeric vegetation on or near the Cumberland Plateau in Ky. It has 6 stamens (versus 3) and relatively small panicles (up to 10 cm versus 30 cm) that are exserted (versus enclosed or exserted) with less spreading branches (FNA 24).