This variable species (2n = 14 to 56) is generally considered to have originated in south-central Europe, and spread to temperate regions of North America after 1492, with records concentrated in coastal states (Nesom 2010a). Historical records suggests that officinalis became widely cultivated for medicinal use during the early period of settlement, then locally naturalized but declined somewhat during the past century. However, it remains possible that some native plants similar to European officinalis existed in North America before 1492. There are distinctive native allies of officinalis in more southern and western regions (Nesom 2010a). Some additional segregates of officinalis in east-central states were recognized by early botanists, but combined by Nesom. These include V. spuria L., which Short (1840) reported from Ky. along "roadsides in the barrens, in common with V. angustifolia [= simplex]"; see also V. riparia Raf. of riverbanks in Va., N.C. and Tenn. (Cr, K, W). Other than Short's record, there are no other records of officinalis or its segregates from Ky.