This widespread southeastern species is close to virginica and monococca, appearing somewhat intermediate, but all three taxa appear to be distinct species (Y). A. gracilens differs from virginica as follows (FNA 12; W): bracts subtending the pistillate flowers usually reddish stipitate-glandular (versus usually with non-stipitate pointed hairs), the bract lobes ovate to deltoid (versus linear to obliong), the longest <2 mm long (versus >3 mm); petioles up to 2 cm (versus 7 cm); leaf blades narrowly rhombic to broadly lanceolate (versus oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate), with L/W mostly 3-4 (versus 2-3), and with serrate to subentire margins (versus serrate). A. gracilens has a curiously fragmented distribution in some northern sections of its range (K). It appears to be uncommon in Ky. and perhaps most of the Ohio Valley, but with a cluster of records in or near the western Knobs of Ky. and Ind. Some northern populations have been considered adventive, but the concentration of records in se Ohio is partly associated with apparent remnants of original grassland and rocky glades in the "Edge of Appalachia". The species may be overlooked in ne. Ky.