Comptonia peregrina (L.) J.M.Coult.

  • Authority

    Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

  • Family

    Myricaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Comptonia peregrina (L.) J.M.Coult.

  • Description

    Species Description - Dioecious or seldom monoecious, much branched shrub to 1.5 m; terminal bud wanting; lvs linear-oblong, 6–12 × 0.8–1.5 cm, deeply pinnately lobed; staminate catkins clustered near the tips of the twigs, arising directly from the distal axillary buds, cylindric, mostly 1.5–4 cm, nodding, their bracts ± quadrangular, acuminate; anthers formed in the fall; pistillate catkins subglobose, at maturity forming a bur 1–2 cm thick; achene ellipsoid-conic or subcylindric, 3–5 mm; 2n=32. Dry, often barren and sandy soil; N.Y. to N.C., w. S.C., and n. Ga., w. to Sask., Minn., Ill., and Tenn. Mar.–June. (Myrica asplenifolia)