This is locally abundant in subxeric to subhydric calcareous woodlands and grasslands across south-central states, including most of Ark, central Tenn. and southern S.Car. (FNA 23, K). It appears to be locally adventive further north (Hill 2010; W; A. Reznicek, pers. comm.), and its status in Ky. remains somewhat uncertain. The first record was from MADI (EKY; McKinney et al. 2000): R. Mears, 11 May 1995, calcareous roadside and open rocky areas, N of Berea along the east side of Hwy 25 just S of junction with Ky. 1983. Also, it was recently found in several old pastures and remnants of native grassland and thickets along roadsides or nearby in HARD, HART (JC) and TRIG (E.W. Chester for APSU). C. cherokeensis is superficially similar to davisii and oxylepis, but has tough coarse creeping rhizomes (versus very short or lacking). It can form dense, spreading clonal clumps that hollow out to "doughnuts".. Leaves during flowering are mosfly 10-40 cm long, but during summer to fall (especially in shade) they can become remarkably long, up to 90-120 (165) cm. Seeds may have relatively deep dormancy; even after two months of cold stratifiction, Barnes (2020) found that germination was slow and staggered over months or perhaps longer. Response to burning or grazing would be interesting.