This is a southeastern taxon that may intergrade with typical saccharum in a clinal fashion (F, W, Y); as in most taxa of Section Saccharina. Only diploids (2n = 26) are reported from this section; there is also a strong parthenocarpic tendency in these species (De Jong 1976). Ward (2004) showed that floridanum should be selected as the correct name, rather than barbatum. Compared to typical saccharum, floridanum has smaller leaves (3-10 x 3.5-11 cm wide versus 6-15 x 8-20 cm), often relatively blunt-lobed, and usually pubescent below (versus glabrous to pubescent). Also, ovaries and young fruits are reported to be pubescent but glabrate at maturity (versus glabrous in saccharum and nigrum). Mature trees tend to be smaller (rarely over 25 m tall), usually with smooth gray bark (versus increasingly plated with age, grayish-brown to pinkish in saccharum). Pedicels, flowers and fruits (ca. 20-25 mm long versus 25-30 mm) are reportedly smaller, but these have not been thoroughly collected in Ky. Relatively pure populations in Ky. may occur on the loess bluffs along the Mississippi Rv., but most of these trees do not have leaves as small and as tomentose as typical plants in more southern states. Open dots mapped here are based on colls. that appear to be at least transitional to typical saccharum or perhaps var. schneckii. See also Clark et al. (2005; CW) for recent collection data.