This is a largely midwestern taxon that occurs locally in southeastern states on dry base-rich sites. It may be reasonably treated as C. berberifolia Torr. & Gray var. engelmanii (Sarg.) Egglest. (Y, FNA 9). Typical berberifolia has 20 stamens (versus 10) and anthers usually white to cream (versus yellow or pink); it is more southwestern and unknown in Ky. (F, W). Both taxa are close to crus-gallii and perhaps intergradient with that species. They differ as follows: leaves mostly 2-3 x 0.8-1.5 cm (versus 2-7 x 1-2 cm), pilose to glabrescent or (above) scabrid (versus largely glabrous), obovate to oblanceolate (versus spathulate to elliptic), veins more strongly reticulate at highest order and major veins extending to almost all teeth (versus some teeth), petioles mostly 4-6 mm (versus 0-5 mm). Relatively broad-leaved variants can be expected in damp or shady habitats, as in crus-galli (F, St).