This variable species ranges across east-central states, growing in moderately dry woods on base-rich soils; it is rare on the coastal plains. P. obovata includes diploids and tetraploids (2n = 44, 88, 90), and sometimes appears intermediate between aurea and anonyma (or the paupercula group), but it is not known to form hybrids. Some colls. from Ky. (e.g. at KY, GH, US) are referable to the relatively southern var. rotundus Britt. (as treated in Senecio by F), which differs in its basal leaves 1-7.5 x 1-6.5 cm (versus 2-10 x 1-5.5 cm), suborbicular to round-obovate (versus obovate), with petiole ca.1-3 x blade length (versus 0.5-1.5), the dilated summit ca. 3-15 mm long (versus 10-30 mm). That taxon has been reported generally from low damp woods and it appears transitional to aurea in some cases. However, typical obovata is almost always distinguishable from aurea by its heads with more abruptly acuminate phyllaries, ca. 3-6 mm long (versus narrowly linear, ca. 6-8 mm), and less deeply yellow flowers; its basal leaves with non-cordate bases (versus cordate); and its rosettes formed on elongate stolons as well as rhizomes (versus just rhizomes). P. obovata is usually distinguishable from anonyma and the paupercula group as follows (W): basal leaf blades ovate, orbicular, or reniform ((versus oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic), with L/W= 0.8-2 (versus 2-8), crenate to serrate (versus entire to serrate or lobed); plants glabrous, glabrate or sparsely floccose when young (versus glabrous to densely tomentose); plants potentially forming clonal patches by stolons or rhizomes (versus not usually clonal).