(L.) Coult.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134920
Element CodePDMCC01010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderMyricales
FamilyMyricaceae
GenusComptonia
SynonymsLiquidambar peregrinaL.Myrica aspleniifoliaL.
Other Common NamesComptonie voyageuse (FR) sweet fern (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-09-18
Change Date1983-10-11
Edition Date2024-09-18
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsComptonia peregrina is a shrub or subshrub occurring in pinelands, pine barrens, clearings, and along the edges of woodlots on dry, sandy to rocky soils of eastern North America, from Ontario east to Nova Scotia, Canada, and Maine and Minnesota south to Georgia in the United States. There are several thousand estimated occurrences of this species, which are potentially threatened fire suppression, development, right-of-way maintenance, invasive species, succession, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent, a high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Comptonia peregrina is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsComptonia peregrina occurs in eastern North America, from Ontario east to Nova Scotia, Canada, and Maine and Minnesota south to Georgia in the United States (FNA 1997). Range extent was estimated to be over 3 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are several thousand occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsFire suppression likely poses a threat to this species (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002). Although threats are not widely documented, Comptonia peregrina is potentially also threatened by development, right-of-way maintenance, invasive species, succession, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.