8a. ssp. fulgida (Wherry) Wherry

P. pilosa var. fulgida Wherry

Plants typically lacking vegetative stems. Stems with 10–17 nodes, sometimes with short axillary branches at many of the nodes, sparsely to densely pubescent with nonglandular hairs, these fine, white, and typically somewhat lustrous (when viewed with magnification). Leaves opposite or rarely subopposite toward the stem tip, linear toward the stem base, grading to narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate toward the stem tip, the bases of the uppermost leaves angled to rounded, not cordate, the lowermost hairy to nearly glabrous, the uppermost moderately to densely pubescent with nonglandular leaves, the largest leaves 4–8 cm long and 2–9 mm wide. Leaves subtending flower clusters linear lanceolate to lanceolate, the bases not cordate. Inflorescences pubescent with nonglandular hairs, these fine, white, and typically somewhat lustrous (when viewed with magnification). Calyces 7–12 mm long, nonglandular-hairy. Corollas with the tube nonglandular-hairy, the lobes 6–10 mm long and 4–8 mm wide. 2n=14. May–June.

Scattered to common in the Unglaciated Plains Division, scattered to uncommon elsewhere in the state, absent from many counties in the Ozark and Mississippi Lowlands Divisions (North Dakota to Oklahoma east to Indiana; Canada). Glades, savannas, upland prairies, mesic to dry upland forests, and bases and ledges of bluffs; also pastures, railroads, and roadsides.