This southeastern species has been reported from Ky. by Pr and others, but no confirmed colls. have been located (M). Colls. have been labelled as praecox from CALL and CARL (MUR), but these are probably vernalis. S. praecox appears relatively close to vernalis, and hybrids (= X meridionalis P.M. Brown) are known from further south (FNA 26); these hybrids were confused by F with S. laciniata (Sm) Ames. Both praecox and laciniata are largely restricted to the Coastal Plain (W).