This occurs in north-central states and adjacent Canada, growing in fens and other damp calcareous open sites. For Ky. the only records are an old coll. from PEND (KY) near Falmouth, and a recent coll. from LEWI (EKY) in the Crooked Creek Barrens. N. racemosus appears close to N. asper (FNA 19); both have lower leaves with spathulate blades, usually unlobed with rounded to obtuse apices; upper leaves are sessile and often clasping; flowers are more or less ascending, with setose phyllaries. N. racemosus is distinguished by its lowest leaves persistent to flowering (versus withered to deciduous); midstems and leaves glabrous (versus hispid to setose); and corollas pinkish to lavendar or white (versus pale yellow to creamy white).