This is known mostly from mesic woods on base-rich soils, with a range centered on the Cumberland Plateau, extending east to the Blue Ridge, north to se Ohio and s W.Va. (K). In Ky. it is uncommon to rare, even within suitable habitat. Without its distinctive flowers or fruits, maculata can be distinguished from lanuginosum as follows (F, FNA 26, W): leaves averaging larger, up to 15-18 x 6-9 cm (versus 6.5-11.5 x 2.5-5 cm); leaf sparsely pubescent on the surface and veins above and below (versus mostly glabrous above, densely pubescent on midrib below, sparsely on surface below); hairs stiff, slightly rough to touch, generally straight and perpendicular to the surface (versus weak, soft to touch, often twisted or apically curled); 2n = 12 versus 18. The phylogeny of Prosartes and its allies remains somewhat uncertain; see notes of P.F. Stephens at APG (mobot.org).; Streptopus is close to Prosartes (both in Asia and North America) but not to Disporum sensu stricto (only in East Asia). Calochortus of western North America may also be relatively close. The more loosely allied Tricyrtis ("toad lilies") is native to East Asia but widely grown as ornamentals.