Compared to glaberrima, these lobed plants may be more concentrated on relatively dry base-rich sites ("especially near the tops of slopes") in the Southern Appalachians and adjacent Piedmont (of Ga., S.Car., N.Car. & Tenn.), with only a few outlying localities (F, W; Ballard et al. 2023). However, ranges remain somewhat uncertain; Ballard has also segregated V. tenuipes Pollard further south. The only record of tripartita sensu stricto from Ky. is a coll. of B (#3945 at NY and US) from CART. There are also records from se. Ohio and sw. W.Va. (Ballard et al. 2023).