This widespread southeastern perennial polyploid (2n = 100) is easily overlooked among taller grasses. In Ky. most records of come from sandy banks of larger rivers or nearby disturbed areas. However, it has also been found in remnants of "barrens" on cherty or sandy uplands (HARD and METC for AP). Colls. from HICK (MUR) and LIVI (R. Athey) may be referable to var. laevivaginata Fern., but that relatively eastern variety is not recognized in recent treatments. The closely related but variable southwestern species, E. intermedia Hitch., may be expected since it is known from a few adjacent counties in Mo. and Tenn (K). Compared to hirsuta, intermedia differs as follows (FNA 25): spikelets olivaceous to plumbeous (versus greenish with purplish tinge), with 3-12 florets (versus 2-6); blades 4-35 cm long (versus 25-60 cm), 1-3.8 mm wide (versus 3-11 mm), involute or flat (versus flat to loosely involute); sheaths never with papillose-based hairs, sometimes villous over the back (versus densely hirsute with papillose-based hairs on collar, backand base); reported 2n = 54-120 (diverse) . Another related species centered in the southern Great Plains, E. trichodes (Nutt.) Wood, is expected in w. Ky., at least as an adventive. It does occurs in s. Ill. and in w. Tenn. (FNA 25, K). Compared to hirsuta, trichodes has more distinctly veined and keeled lemmas; larger spikelets are larger with 4-18 florets (versus 2-6); 2n = 40.