This alien is widely scattered across southeastern states, especially from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf Coastal Plain; it is more frequent in more western region, especially Pacific states (K). In Ky. it appears largely restricted to dry sterile soils. V. bromoides is close to octoflora but differs as follows (FNA 24, W): first glume 1.7-4.5 mm long (versus 3.5-5 mm); lemma awns 3-12 mm long (versus 0.3-9 mm); spikelets with 4-7 loosely imbricate florets (versus 5-11+ closely imbricate); rachilla internodes mostly 0.9-1.1 mm long (versus 0.5-0.7 mm)..