This occurs in southeastern states, mostly east of the Mississippi Rv., usually growing in open xeric sites on strongly acid sandy soils. Some colls. from ROWA (MDKY) are unusually glabrate, perhaps suggesting D. epilis Scribn. (= D. sericea var. epilis). That taxon is rather poorly known and its status remains somewhat controversial (FNA 24, W). It is documented mostly in the Southern Appalachians or Piedmont, including the Cumberland Plateau in Tenn., usually growing in wetter sites than sericea.