This widespread northeastern species is difficult to distinguish from rosea in some cases, especially with immature specimens. C. radiata has relatively straight stigmas except for the basal reflex (versus coiled or twisted); its perigynia have broad subtruncate bases (versus cuneate to rounded), with achenes well above the spongy bases (versus subsessile), and they tend to reflex when ripe; its lowest bracts are relatively short, on average (Cr, FNA 23). C. radiata is typical of seasonally wet, medium acid soils. It is generally absent from the largely calcareous Bluegrass region, but it does occur locally on relatively siliceous stream terraces.