This largely Ozarkian taxon is globally rare, with threatened or endangered status in all states except perhaps Ark., where just "vulnerable" (S3 in NS). In Ky is known from a few disjunct sites in mesic to subxeric woods of south-central counties. T.ozarkanum appears closer to T. texanum Buckl. than to typical pusillum or other southeastern segregates (Timmerman-Erskine et al. 2003). The Ky. plants may be significantly more robust than typical ozarkanum, with larger leaves and bracts, but further analysis is needed (S. Farmer, pers. comm. to W et al.). The few patches each contain only a few 10s-100s, mostly growing in somewhat disturbed woods transitional from oak-hickory (with some red maple, dogwood, red cedar) to mixed mesic (sugar maple, basswood, beech, tulip, elm, cherry). It seems likely that occasional burning or other distrubance of the ground would be beneficial for this species. The invasive alien, Lonicera japonica, may be a problem at some sites.