Sassafras
Sassafras albidum

Other Names: Ague tree, Saxifrax, Cinnamonwood, Saloop, Smelling-stick

Caution: May be harmful in excessive doses. The FDA has banned it from being sold for internal use.

Habitat
   Sassafras is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America From Maine to Ontario, south to Florida and Texas. In the North it is a shrub growing only to 7 or 8 feet, but in the Southern States it sometimes attains a height of 100 feet. Found growing in thickets, rich woods, forest openings and edges, roadsides and fence rows. Root sprouts grow vigorously and colonize the area around the main tree. The leaves are alternate, simple, with smooth margins and different in shape, some with three lobes and others with one lobe on the side looking like a mitten and some with none, turning yellow to bright red in autumn. The yellow-green fragrant flowers bloom in clusters in early spring. The fruit is a dark blue berry, about the size of a pea, in a red cup, on a red stalk, in a cluster, ripening in Aug.-Oct.. All parts of the tree are aromatic. Gather the root bark anytime, dry for later use.

Properties
   Sassafras was used extensively for food and medicine by Native Americans long before European settlers arrived. Sassafras bark was one of the first exports of the New World. In the southern U.S., the roots were boiled, then combined with molasses, and allowed to ferment into the first ROOT BEER. The young leaves can be added to salads and have a mild aromatic flavor.

Folklore
   Explorers and settlers associated the pleasant aroma of the tree with healing and protection from evil influences, and extracts of the bark and roots soon became a panacea elixir sought by Europeans.

Article by Deb Jackson & Karen Bergeron

Next > Skullcap