Northern Marsh Elder (Iva frutescens ssp. oraria)

2014-8-15 Bombay Hook NWR, DE

The Southern has narrower leaves and the teeth are not quite as noticeable. There are other differences as well.

Northern Marsh Elder - The stems are woody and come up from a central area. I stripped a handful of the little green pellets into my hand thinking they were seedpods. (They're actually the flowers. The green parts are the bracts and the flowers themselves are practically hidden within them.) I was surprised by a refreshing fragrance, not green or grass/weed-like but, more resembling a mint. I wouldn't mind at all having my indoors steeped in that scent.

distribution map:
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=IVFRO2

write-up at:
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/czm/program-areas/stormsmart-coasts/coastal-landscaping/plant-highlights.html

from Carolina Nature:
"The southern var. frutescens is common along the entire NC coast, while the northern var. oraria, distinguished by larger, broader leaves, occurs from Dare County north. The Dune Marsh-elder (Iva imbricata) tends to occur on oceanside dunes and has smaller, thicker, mostly untoothed leaves."
http://www.carolinanature.com/trees/ivfr.html

also:
https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/iva/frutescens/#