This southeastern species has been reported from Ky. but colls. have not been located (M; see LYON in FNA 25 & website). In c. Tenn., it is known from counties bordering Ky., including Stewart Co. aong the Trace ca. 4 miles S of the state line), There is a disjunct record from e. Mo. It has been treated as a variety or subspecies of laxum; both species are diploids (2n = 24), but there is no evidence of intergradation. C. sessilifolium occurs in submesic to xeric woods, in contrast with the subhydric to xerohydric habitats of laxum. It differs from laxum (F, Cr, FNA 25, W) in its fertile lemmas, which are 7-9-veined (versus 3-7) and usually curved or irregularly contorted (versus straight); blades are wider on average (mostly 6-11 mm versus 3-7 mm), basally-concentrated (versus to half-way up the culm); sheaths are villous at least towards the summit (versus glabrous), mostly covering the nodes (versus nodes exerted); culms are up to 2-3.5 mm thick at nodes (versus ca. 1 mm).