Presence in the state remains uncertain given continuing taxonomic difficulties. This taxon may be concentrated in more southern regions than typical albicans, especially on acid sandy soils of the Coastal Plain, but reported differences in habitat have not been consistent (FNA 23, F, W). Distinction from albicans is often difficult, and some colls. appear intermediate; variety status may be preferable (Naczi et al. 2015)..However, D. Poindexter, A. Weakley & B. Sorrie (W) have recently treated emmonsii at the species level, presenting the differences as follows: scales of the median portion of the staminate spike with acute-acuminate to aristate apices (versus obtuse) and with minute teeth usually present on the midrib (versus rarely present); staminate spikes mostly 3.6-8.5 mm long (versus 8-12.5 mm), with peduncles mostly 0.3-1.9 mm (versus 1-6 mm); culms lax to erect, often shorter than and curving under the leaves (versus erect, subequal to leaves). Reportedly 2n = 40 (versus 36 in albicans and physorhyncha).