This widespread eastern taxon has been treated as a subspecies of acuminatum (FNA 25). It appears to be relatively distinct in Ky., often concentrated on somewhat xerohydric flats. Initial analysis of DNA has supported recognition as a distinct taxon, although perhaps with some intermediates (Majure et al. 2023). A few colls. from western Ky. (e.g. CALL at KY-Agr.) appear transitional to the closely related longiligulatum, which may not be consistently separable in Ky. Intergradation with lanuginosum and implicatum can also be expected (FNA 25). Thomas (2015) indicated that both lindheimeri and spretum are close to the leucothrix-longiligulatum-meridionale group. They differ in having largely glabrous sheaths (versus hairy or glabrous), larger leaf blades (mostly 3-12 cm x 3-12 mm versus 2-7 cm x 2-6 mm), and larger spikelets (mostly 1.3-1.7 mm long versus 1.2-1.5 mm).