This largely midwestern species is widely scattered over central and western regions of Ky., but no large secure populations are known. Most records come from single flowering plants or small groups of non-flowering plants in shade. L. michiganense appears to do best in thin submesic woods and brushy edges, with a moderate disturbance regime that has been largely lost in the modern landscape. Rooting of hogs may have been another significant factor reducing the species. Efforts by JC to propagate plants from bulbs in pots have been generally thwarted by chipmunks, which try to dig up bulbs and break off young flowering stalks in late May (2019); also rabbits can eat off leaves. Other growers of native lilies in Ky. have been more successful in the ground; pots may allow more attack by chipmunks. There has been occasional confusion with other species, and some colls. should be rechecked, especially those lacking flowers or capsules. Although closest to canadense, michiganense sometimes appears transitional to superbum; see notes under that species. L. canadense differs in its less reflexed tepals, less diverging filaments, and less exserted stamens; those characters may be associated with more pollination by humming-birds versus butterflies (FNA 26). Without flowers, michiganense cannot be reliably distinguished. Audubon (1827-38. Plate 186) illustrated his "Pinnated Grouse" (Greater Prairie Chicken) together with "Lilium superbum", against a landscape that probably represented the Big Barrens region of Kentucky; but the Lilium was more likely michiganense, which was not described until 1915, by Farwell (FNA 26). L. michiganense was probably also the species referred to by Filson's (1784) pioneering promotion of the central Bluegrass region: "Here are seen the finest crown-imperials in the world". .