This uncommon species is known from somewhat disjunct localities of the Ozark-Ouachita region, Interior Low Plateaus. transitional glaciated land of c. Ohio, and enclaves of the Cumberland Plateau in n. Ala (FNA 23, K, W). It usually occurs in thin submesic to subxeric woods on calcareous soils, and it may be most abundant (even locally dominant) where browsing by deer or cattle has been intense for many decades. Common trees include Juniperus virginiana, Quercus muhlenbergii, Q. shumardii, Fraxinus americana and Acer saccharum. C. timida was recently described by Naczi (2001) and is easily confused with jamesii, but its sister species appears to be juniperorum. Compared to jamesii, the terminal spikes of timida (not the lateral spikes on capillary peduncles) have shorter staminate sections, minus the internode above perigynia (mostly 3.4-5.6 mm versus 5.8-13.5 mm). These staminate sections have longer basal scales (1.9-3.3 mm versus 1.1-2.1 mm), each covering more of the staminate section (usually 30-75% versus 15-25%). Other differences may be less clear-cut: shorter perigynium beaks (mostly 1.4-2.3 mm versus 2.3-3.8 mm); scabrid trichomes present on perigynium summits and beaks (versus just on beaks); distinctly red-purple shoot bases (versus usually reddish, dark or pale brown); and often more open tussocks. M. Brock (pers. comm.) noted the scabrid perigynium summits, which were not described in FNA 23.