Comptonia peregrina

At a glance

Origin / distribution: US(Amerindian), US, US(Appalachia)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Astringent, Cancer, Colic, Debility

Science studied: BETULIN

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Myricaceae

Scientific name: Comptonia peregrina

Common names: Almindelig bregnepors, Farnmyrte, Helecho dulce, Klajoklinis ūgras, Komptonia amerykańska, Komptonija, Shkwapkosek (Gibaime nunagwus), Slatka paprat, Sweet Fern, Sweet fern, Tuoksumyrtti, bregnepors, bräkenpors, comptonia, comptonie voyageuse, comptonie à feuilles d'asplénie, fern-gale, komptonia amerykańska, postopčák cizí

POWO: 64014-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in US(Amerindian), US, US(Appalachia).

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Astringent
• Cancer
• Colic
• Debility
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Poison-Ivy
• Rheumatism

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• US(Amerindian)
• US
• US(Appalachia)

Documented cultural uses

• Astringent
• Cancer
• Colic
• Debility
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Poison-Ivy
• Rheumatism
• Ache(Tooth)
• Flux
• Medicine

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Astringent · US(Amerindian) · "
• Cancer · US · "
• Colic · US · "
• Debility · US · "
• Diarrhea · US · "
• Fever · US · "
• Poison-Ivy · US(Amerindian) · "
• Rheumatism · US · "
• Ache(Tooth) · US(Amerindian) · "
• Flux · US(Amerindian) · "
• Medicine · US(Appalachia) · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Efficacy of a novel tick attractant and repellent activity of essential oils from sweet fern, Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coult. · 2026 source ↗
• Permanent Draft Genome Sequences for Two Variants of Frankia sp. Strain CpI1, the First Frankia Strain Isolated from Root Nodules of Comptonia peregrina. · 2016 source ↗
• Composition and cytotoxic activity of the leaf essential oil of Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coulter. · 2007 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETULIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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