This southeastern species of dry sandy soils extends north in the Mississippi watershed to Mo., Ill. and Ky., but it is rare in those states. The only record from Ky. is an old coll. from WAYN (US): L.B. Smith & A.R. Hodgdon #3878, 12-14 July 1937, brushy bank of Beaver Creek south of Monticello. The genus Centrosema is easily confused with Clitoria, but species native to eastern states tend to have smaller flowers (the standard ca. 2.5-3.5 cm long versus 4.5-5.5 cm), relatively long calyx lobes (at least equalling tube), persistent bracteoles (partly hiding calyx), and more linear fruits (ca. 3-5 mm wide versus 5-7 mm).