Within Ky. and Tenn., this northeastern species is locally common but largely restricted to boggy sites in or near Appalachian regions. Records from CALL and HICK (CW) are omitted here, pending verification. Some colls. from MONT and POWE (KY) may be referable to R. trifrons Blanch., which is a northern taxon reportedly of hybrid origin from R. hispidus and the northern species, R. setosus Bigel. (Cr). These and other unusual colls. (e.g. J. Campbell on 15 Sep 1989 from WHIT at KY) deserve further study. Several close relatives of hispidus are known in states to the north and east, but have not been thoroughly searched for among Ky. colls.