This is a somewhat cryptic southeastern taxon, known only east of the Mississippi Rv. and centered in Ga., S.Car. and N.Car. (W). It may occur in Ky. (F), but verified colls. are unknown. Based on W and FNA 12, pubentissima differs from typical corollata as follows: stems usually solitary (versus 3-10 from crown), usually up to 6-7 dm tall (versus 9-10 dm), usually1.5-2.5 mm thick at base (versus 2.5-5 mm); leaves usually reflexed, thin, petiolate or subpetiolate (versus ascending, leathery, sessile); primary bracts similar to stem leaves in size (versus smaller); petaloid appendages orbicular or oval, 0.9-2.2 mm long (versus 2.5-4.4 mm); seeds 1.8-2.3 mm long (versus 2.6-3.2 mm). It tends to have earlier flowering (Mar-Jul versus Jun-Sep); and perhaps more explosive seed dispersal (pers. obs.). The synonym E. corollata var. zinniifolia (Small) Ahles was listed from rocky banks of the Cumberland Rv. in a 1980 inventory (M). Also, pubentissima-like plants have been collected from banks of the Obed Rv. and its tributaries in ne. Tenn. (TENN; D. Estes, pers. comm.).