This is widespread across southeastern states. There is much overlap in reported range with the more northeastern pruinosa, which is closely related, and some colls. deserve further study. Var. rigida Palmer may be transitional. Lance (2011) treated gattingeri as a variety of pruinosa. However, J.B. Phipps (with dets. at GH and MO) has maintained it as a distinct species (FNA 9), distinguished by its smaller fruit (up to 9-10 mm wide versus 12-16 mm), smaller flowers (1.2-1.7 cm wide versus 1.7-2.2 cm), smaller anthers (0.3-0.4 mm long versus 0.6-0.8 mm), thinner leaves and more acute to acuminate leaf lobing, the terminal lobe often distinctly elongated (D, F, Gl, SC). Most Ky. colls. are pre-1950, and the taxon may be imperiled.