Sweet Fern
Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coult.
A much-branched shrub that spreads by rhizomes forming dense patches. It has long (10 cm), narrow, lobed, and fragrant leaves. Male and female flowers are borne in birch-like catkins. The male catkins are green to brown and occur on the tips of year-old stems. The female catkins are red and are found below the male catkins. They form a burr-like fruit that turns brown with maturity.
Sweet Fern – Mature Plant
