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Sassafras (Spanish, Salsafras, Saxifraga; medicinal properties similar to those of Saxifraga were attributed to it by Spanish discoverers). Lauraceae. Sassafras. Ornamental trees grown for their handsome foliage assuming beautiful tints in autumn and for their bright-colored fruit.

Sassafras (Spanish, Salsafras, Saxifraga; medicinal properties similar to those of Saxifraga were attributed to it by Spanish discoverers). Lauraceae. Sassafras. Ornamental trees grown for their handsome foliage assuming beautiful tints in autumn and for their bright-colored fruit.

Deciduous: lvs. alternate, entire or 3-lobed, slender-petioled: fls. dioecious, rarely perfect, apetalous; calyx 6-parted; stamens 9, the 3 inner ones furnished at the base with 2 stalked, orange-colored glands; staminodes 3 or wanting; anthers opening with 4 valves; ovary superior, 1-loculed: fr. an oblong-ovoid, 1-seeded, dark blue drupe surrounded at the base by the thickened scarlet calyx.—Two species, one in E. N. Amer. and one in China.

Deciduous: lvs. alternate, entire or 3-lobed, slender-petioled: fls. dioecious, rarely perfect, apetalous; calyx 6-parted; stamens 9, the 3 inner ones furnished at the base with 2 stalked, orange-colored glands; staminodes 3 or wanting; anthers opening with 4 valves; ovary superior, 1-loculed: fr. an oblong-ovoid, 1-seeded, dark blue drupe surrounded at the base by the thickened scarlet calyx.—Two species, one in E. N. Amer. and one in China.

The sassafrases are handsome trees of pyramidal habit with rather large, entire or 3-lobed leaves and small yellow flowers in few-flowered racemes appearing in spring with the leaves and followed by ornamental dark blue fruits on red fleshy stalks. The native species is hardy North, while the Chinese one which is still little known in cultivation is somewhat tenderer. The American sassafras usually affects light lands, although it may grow in clay loams. It is a desirable tree for ornamental planting on account of its handsome light green foliage, which is interesting with its varying shapes and its orange-yellow or bright red color in autumn, and on account of its decorative bright-colored fruit. It prefers, at least in the North, a warm and sunny position. It is not easily transplanted when old on account of its long tap-roots. Propagation is by seeds sown as soon as ripe; also by suckers, which are often freely produced, and by root-cuttings.

The sassafrases are handsome trees of pyramidal habit with rather large, entire or 3-lobed leaves and small yellow flowers in few-flowered racemes appearing in spring with the leaves and followed by ornamental dark blue fruits on red fleshy stalks. The native species is hardy North, while the Chinese one which is still little known in cultivation is somewhat tenderer. The American sassafras usually affects light lands, although it may grow in clay loams. It is a desirable tree for ornamental planting on account of its handsome light green foliage, which is interesting with its varying shapes and its orange-yellow or bright red color in autumn, and on account of its decorative bright-colored fruit. It prefers, at least in the North, a warm and sunny position. It is not easily transplanted when old on account of its long tap-roots. Propagation is by seeds sown as soon as ripe; also by suckers, which are often freely produced, and by root-cuttings.{{SCH}}

 

{{Otheruses4|the Sassafras tree}}

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'''''Sassafras''''' is a genus of four species of [[deciduous]] [[tree]]s in the family [[Lauraceae]], native to eastern [[North America]] and eastern [[Asia]].<ref name=nie>Nie, Z.-L., Wen, J. & Sun, H. (2007). Phylogeny and biogeography of Sassafras (Lauraceae) disjunct between eastern Asia and eastern North America. ''Plant Systematics and Evolution'' 267: 191–203 [http://www.springerlink.com/content/7331p473p057q683/ Abstract.]</ref>

{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->

Sassafras trees grow from 15–35 m (50–120 feet) tall and 70–150 cm (2.5–6 feet) in diameter, with many slender branches, and smooth, orange-brown bark. The branching is [[sympodial]]. The bark of the mature trunk is thick, red-brown, and deeply furrowed. The wood is light, soft, weak, and brittle. All parts of the plants are very fragrant. The species are unusual in having three distinct [[leaf]] patterns on the same plant, unlobed oval, bilobed (mitten-shaped), and trilobed (three pronged; rarely the leaves can be five-lobed<ref name=noble>Noble Plant Image Gallery [http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/woodhtml/Sassafras.html Sassafras (includes photo of five-lobed leaf)]</ref>). They have smooth margins and grow 7–20 cm long by 5–10 cm broad. The young leaves and twigs are quite [[mucilage|mucilaginous]], and produce a scent similar to [[lemon]]s when crushed. The tiny, yellow [[flower]]s are five-petaled and bloom in the spring; they are [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], with male and female flowers on separate trees. The [[fruit]] are blue-black, egg-shaped, 1 cm long, produced on long, red-stalked cups, and mature in late summer.<ref name=fna>Flora of North America: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=129310 ''Sassafras'']</ref>

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The name "Sassafras", applied by the botanist [[Nicolas Monardes]] in the sixteenth century, is said to be a corruption of the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] word for [[saxifrage]].

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==Species==

==Species==

*''[[Sassafras albidum]]'' (Nuttall) Nees - '''Sassafras''', '''White Sassafras''', '''Red Sassafras''' or '''Silky Sassafras'''. Eastern North America, from southernmost [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] through the eastern [[United States]] south to central [[Florida]], and west to southern [[Iowa]] and eastern [[Texas]].

*''[[Sassafras albidum]]'' (Nuttall) Nees - '''Sassafras''', '''White Sassafras''', '''Red Sassafras''' or '''Silky Sassafras'''. Eastern North America, from southernmost [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] through the eastern [[United States]] south to central [[Florida]], and west to southern [[Iowa]] and eastern [[Texas]].{{wp}}

*''[[Sassafras tzumu]]'' (Hemsl.) Hemsl. - '''Chinese Sassafras''' or '''Tzumu'''. Central and southwestern [[China]]. It differs from ''S. albidum'' in the leaves being more frequently three-lobed,<ref name=esveld>Arboretum Trompenburg: [http://www.esveld.nl/plantdias/51/51682.jpg ''Sassafras tzumu'' photo]</ref> the lobes having a tapered acuminate apex (not rounded to weakly acute).

*''[[Sassafras tzumu]]'' (Hemsl.) Hemsl. - '''Chinese Sassafras''' or '''Tzumu'''. Central and southwestern [[China]]. It differs from ''S. albidum'' in the leaves being more frequently three-lobed,<ref name=esveld>Arboretum Trompenburg: [http://www.esveld.nl/plantdias/51/51682.jpg ''Sassafras tzumu'' photo]</ref> the lobes having a tapered acuminate apex (not rounded to weakly acute).{{wp}}

*''[[Sassafras randaiense]]'' (Hayata) Rehd. - '''Taiwan Sassafras'''. [[Taiwan]]. Treated by some botanists in a distinct genus as ''Yushunia randaiensis'' (Hayata) Kamikoti,<ref name=kamikoti>Kamikoti, S. (1933). ''Ann. Rep. Taihoku Bot. Gard''. 3: 78</ref> though this is not supported by recent genetic evidence which shows the genus to be [[monophyly|monophyletic]].<ref name=nie/>

*''[[Sassafras randaiense]]'' (Hayata) Rehd. - '''Taiwan Sassafras'''. [[Taiwan]].{{wp}}

== Uses ==

==Gallery==

[[Essential oil]] distilled from the root-bark or the [[fruit]] was used as a [[fragrance]] in [[perfume]]s and [[soap]]s, food (sassafras tea and candy flavoring) and for [[aromatherapy]].

{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->

The dried and ground leaves are used to make [[filé powder]], a spice used in the making of some types of [[gumbo]].

Image:Upload.png| photo 1

It is also used in the manufacture of the drug [[ecstasy]], and as such, its transport is monitored internationally.

 

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

The roots of Sassafras was used in the flavoring of root beer until its ban in 1960.

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

 

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

In 1960, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of sassafras oil and safrole in foods and drugs based on the animal studies and human case reports. Several years later, the sale of sassafras oil, roots, or tea was prohibited by law. Subsequently, both Canada and the United States have passed laws against the sale of any consumable products (beverages, foods, cosmetics, health products such as toothpaste, and others) that contain more than specific small amounts of [[safrole]].<ref>[http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/PrintablePages/herbMonograph/0,11475,552413,00.html]</ref>

<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==See also==

==External links==

* [http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/PrintablePages/herbMonograph/0,11475,552413,00.html Drug Digest Sassafras]

 

[[Category:Categorize]]

[[Category:Laurales]]

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[[Category:Medicinal plants]]