that contains 1 to 4 edible nutlets. The aromatic leaves (fresh or dried) are also used to make a tea. The Canadian author Catharine Parr Traill includes it in her book The Female Emigrant's Guide in a list of substitutes for China tea. "When boiled," she notes, "it has a slightly resinous taste, with a bitter flavour, that is not very unpleasant." Mistaking it, like others, for a fern, she says that it is in high repute "among the Yankee and old Canadian housewifes (sic)." Tea made from the plant has been said to treat the effects of poison ivy when applied to the affected area. The plant has also been used as a seasoning. Notes References External links USDA Plants Profile for Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern) Flora of North America: Comptonia peregrina Myricaceae Flora of Eastern Canada Flora of the North-Central United States Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Taxa named by John Merle Coulter Plants described in 1753 Flora without expected TNC conservation status