This taxon appears to be somewhat intermediate between americana and H. pubescens Pursh, "almost certainly of hybrid origin"(FNA 8, W). H. hispida differs from typical americana in its large flowers, with free hypanthium 1.5-1.9 mm long (versus 0.6-1.5 mm), its generally purplish, fimbriate petals (or perhaps paler in Pa.; see GH), and its generally glabrous leaves. Although hispida is concentrated on base-rich soils in or near the Ridge-and-Valley region, there are several records from western W.Va. and Va. close to Ky. (K, W). Also, there may be outlying colls. further west from Ohio (Scioto Co., GH), Ky. (APSC, BA, MEM, WVW to be checked), and even Ark. (Montgomery Co., GH). The only known Ky. coll. that may be verified is from PIKE (APSC), by R. McVaugh #8696; this was initially named pubescens but recently identified as hispida by M. Brock.