This is previously known only from s. Ind. (Bailey 1943; D, F). There are colls. that may be referable to this species from HARD (F.L. Johnson & W.J. Anderson #K-0612 at OKL) and perhaps BATH (M. Medley for WKY). However, its status may be doubted. F (largely following Bailey) treated indianensis in a mostly northern group of species characterized by relatively large inflorescences, with generally shorter but more spreading (versus erect) pedicels, and less pubescent leaves; see also whartoniae, with more pubescent leaves. In F's key, the closest species to indianensis were R. recurvicaulis Blanch. and other somewhat obscure species, concentrated in New England and the Great Lakes region. R. recurvicaulis has been recently mapped as a hexaploid in New England by Angelo & Boufford (2020), but there is no mention of it in FNA 9.