Day 256: Over the years, there have been several occasions when someone observed Comptonia peregrina in my garden and mistook it for another plant entirely, one which I would never, ever grow (and anyone who knows me should know that). While the leaf shape is superficially similar, anyone who can tell their left shoe from their right should be able to spot the differences even if they're only familiar with the other plant's iconic silhouette. The leaves of Sweetfern are simple and alternate, not palmately compound, and although both have jagged edges, Comptonia's leaf is pinnatifid (comprised of deeply divided lobes), as opposed to being serrated (toothed like a saw). My lovely, lush Comptonia has provided some amusing interludes as I show guests around my yard. When in fruit as it is now, there's little chance of misidentification. The end-of-thumb sized pods are covered with soft spines, and each holds up to four small nutlets which are purportedly edible. Northern Flickers find them particularly tasty.
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