This is a widespread southeastern species, even in its narrow sense, but it is generally restricted to strongly acid soils with more seasonal drying than virginica. See notes under interior, which has been combined as a variety in the past. R. mariana can be distinguished from interior and virginica as follows (R.J. LeBlond in W): the four stem faces at mid-stem markedly unequal (versus about equal), one pair of opposite faces broader, convex, darker green, the narrower pair concave or flat, pale, the arrangement of broader and narrower faces alternating at each subsequent internode (versus faces almost flat, the angles sharp or winged).