This is widespread across eastern states, especially on sandy soils of coastal regions, but it is uncommon to absent in much of the Ohio Valley and midwest (K). S. atlanticum is often confused with angustifolium, but differs in its less robust habit with narrower leaves (0.8-1.9 mm wide versus 2.3-5 mm), more glaucous and less blackening when dried; 2n = 16 or 32 versus 96 (FNA 26, W). With older treatments, some colls. have been incorrectly named as S. bermudiana auct. non L.