This northern, circumboreal perennial (with significant variants) was reported from Ky. by Short et al. (1833), Gl (as var. intermedium DC.), and Cr (without separation of varieties). However, no colls. have been found. The closest verified plants are in higher mountains of e. W.Va. and w. Va. (K, W). Records from Mo. and Tenn. (K) are probably erroneous or dubious (W). G. boreale is similar to latifolium, but has smaller fruits (ca. 2 mm versus 3-4 mm), flowers white (versus purple) in rather showy cymose panicles (versus groups of 1-4 at upper 1-3 nodes), leaves lance-linear (versus lanceolate to lance-ovate) with rounded apices (versus acute to acuminate), and frequent axillary fascicles of small leaves.