"phacelia covillei" has a very limited, disjunct distribution in the eastern united states. it occurs in maryland and north carolina (where authorities list it as s1, endangered) and in indiana, ohio, virginia, and west virginia where state heritage programs have not distinguished it from "p. ranunculacea" (nutt.) constance which they list as endangered in each state (sewell 2003; sewell and vincent 2006). "phacelia covillei" also occurs in the district of columbia, illinois, and missouri where officials have not assigned it a conservation status. this species is common in some of its range where it grows in habitats such as floodplain forests and adjacent slope forests. development, changes in land use, competition with invasive species, or a combination of these factors can eliminate populations of this species.