This occurs mostly in the Ozark region and lower Mississippi Valley. Although reported from Ky. in FNA 23 and W, verified colls. have not yet been seen. Cranfill's (1991) report was apparently based on misidentified muhlenbergii. C. austrina may still be expected in Ky., at least as an adventive species (R. Naczi, pers. comm.). Disjunct plants that appear adventive do occur in Ohio (pers. comm. from R. Gardner, Ohio Divsion of Natural Areas) and in other eastern states (K, W). Compared to muhlenbergii, the pistillate scales of austrina are wider (at least 2 mm versus often less than 2 mm), almost covering perigynia (versus much less wide); awns are longer (1.5-4 mm versus usually 0-1.5 mm), and culms are more divergent (at ca. 45 degrees versus almost upright).