This is close to repens, with similar southeastern range and habitats, but it may tend to occur in more shady areas on average. In Ky. there appear to be occasional hybrids with intermedia, virginica and others. However, distinction from repens is generally clearcut (F), despite abundant intimate association between the two species. L. procumbens is distinguished simply by its stems "soft-downy with short spreading hairs" (versus appressed-pubescent to glabrate). Isely (1990) and Y indicated that its racemes tend to have more flowers: 6-10(12) versus 2-8(10). Also, Y reported that calices of procumbens tend to be longer (tube 1-1.5 mm versus 1.5-2 mm; lobes 1-2 mm versus 2-3 mm). These characters mahy not be reliable but deserve deeper analysis. Although F suggested that procumbenr is "perhaps better treated as a var." there has been universal acceptance of species status. Yet how can we sure there is not just a simple genetic polymorphism within one species?