This is centered on Appalachians and mid-Atlantic states, with some disjunctions to south and west. In Ky. it is largely restricted to dry acid soils in Appalachian regions, with local extensions into the Knobs and other hills around the Bluegrass, plus an old record from the Mammoth Cave area (EDMO at US). Varieties are not recognized in recent treatments. Most plants in Ky. are referable to the relatively northern var. nudicaule (Michx.) Farw., which has glabrous upper leaf surfaces. The southern var. venosum is scattered in central and eastern regions of the state, with little or no apparent difference in distribution or habitat. H. venosum can hybridize with paniculatum (forming X scribneri Small), gronovii (forming X marianum Willd.) and scabrum. H. X scribneri has been collected from MADI (named "H. venosum ssp. scribneri (Small) Garland ined." at GH); 2n = 18 throughout sect. Stenotheca.