This perennial is widespread across eastern North America, usually growing in disturbed woods on submesic to subxeric base-rich soils. It tends to occur in extensive dense populations (suggesting vegetative spread but not so). The species often appears to increase in woods that have been influenced by past browsing of livestock plus continued influence of deer. Despite its current epithet "odorata", ths species is not known to be more fragrant than others in the genus. Several species of Sanicula are reputed to have medicinal potential, but there has been little definitive research in North America. Their chemistry includes diverse phenolic acids and saponins (e.g. Arda et al. 1997). Both odorata and marilandica differ from other eastern species (trifoliata, canadensis, smallii) as follows (W): styles exceeding calyx by at least 50% (versus shorter or equalling); umbellets dimorphic, some containing both perfect and staminate flowers, while others contain staminate flowers only (versus usually monomorphic with both perfect and 1-7 staminate flowers); larger leaves 3-7-lobed (versus 3-5).