History
Sassafras is a genus of three extant and one extinct specie of deciduous tree diagram in the class Lauraceae , native to eastern North America and eastern Asia . This tree has a long chronicle in North American culture . Various tribe used the leaves , root word bark , and wood in a diversity of ways . The Choctaw , for model , used dried , powdered sassafras leaves to inspissate soups and stews .
Sassafras was introduce to Europe in the 16th century by explorers like Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh . It was initially touted as a medicative tooth root in Europe , used to do by ague ( fevers ) and sexually transmitted diseases . In 1960 , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned sassafras oil and safrole in commercially mass - produced foods and drugs due to health headache about the carcinogenicity of safrole , a major component of sassafras petroleum .
Today , Sassafras trees are still found in the wild across a large serving of the easterly United States . It remains culturally pregnant , peculiarly in the culinary world . In Louisiana Creole culinary art , it is used in the form of filé powder to thicken gumbo .
Grown primarily for its bark and base , sassafras has also been plant for its beautiful declivity leaf , turning brilliant orange , cerise and pink with the colder autumn weather . Native to much of the United States , Sassafras grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9a . Although primarily grown as an outside Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , it can also be originate in a container .
Size and Growth Rate
The size of a Sassafras tree diagram can deviate depending on its age and growing weather condition , but they generally maturate to a stature of 30 to 60 feet ( 9 to 18 meters ) and a width of 25 to 40 feet ( 7.6 to 12 meters ) . However , some sources suggest that Sassafras trees can get even taller , reach up to 115 feet ( 35 meters ) in height .
Sassafras trees are considered fast - grow , especially when they are untested . They can grow between 12 and 24 inches ( 30 to 60 cm ) per year , and some reservoir suggest that they can grow up to 4 foot ( 1.2 meters ) in the first year . The bole is usually slender , with a diam of 2 to 3 feet ( 0.6 to 1 meter ) . The trees have a lifespan of around 30 years , although some sources suggest that they can live up to 50 eld .
farewell
The leaves of the Sassafras Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree range from 3 to 7 inches in length and 1 to 4 inches in width . The leaves add up in three cast on the same tree : ellipse , mitten - shaped , and three - lobed . They are green color and emit a strong , lemony scent when crushed . The three - lobed leaves resemble a Republic of Turkey ’s foot , while the mitten - work foliage have two lobes that resemble a pair of mittens . The oval leave are simple and un - lob . They are a bright green vividness throughout the summer . In the fall , Sassafras leaves turn vibrant colors , include red , orangish , purple , and yellow .
blossom
Sassafras flowers are little cluster of chartreuse - yellow blooms , sometimes described as greenish - xanthous . Each flower has five touchy petals , and they come along in groups on shortsighted stalk borne by the branches . They bloom in the springtime , from April to May , and are arranged in clusters that can range from a few to several dozen flowers . The peak are not only visually appealing but also fragrant .
Sassafras bloom are hermaphroditic , they have both male and female generative part . This equipment characteristic allows the flowers to ego - pollinate , but they can also frustrate - pollinate with other Sassafras tree in the vicinity . After pollination , the flowers develop into small , dark - blue to black fruits called stone fruit , which moderate a unmarried ejaculate . The fruit are eaten by bird and small mammals , which then disperse the seed . Early - time of year bee , beetles , and fly flit between the blooms , attracted by the nectar they offer .
Bark
Sassafras barque undergoes a translation throughout the tree ’s lifespan . On young Tree , the bark is a politic , bright yellow - green with a mucilaginous grain , almost feeling slimy to the mite . As the sassafras matures , the bark transitions to a ruby - brown semblance and develop a rough , chamfer grain . These rich furrows and ridges become increasingly prominent with age .
Sassafras Fruit
The fruits develop from the distaff sassafras tree diagram and senesce in late summertime . Each fruit is borne on a hopeful red , fleshy stalk that resembles a club in shape . The fruits are ovoid - shaped drupes , they resemble a small tear or oval . These fruits are a beautiful deep blue - black when ripe , with a shining finish .
Seeds
Sassafras seeds are nestled within the beautiful blue - black fruit of the distaff tree . Once you crack enter the fruit ’s heavy flesh , you ’ll get a single , round , and glossy seed . These seed are about the size of a diminished pea plant , usually dark brownish or bleak in color , and have a hard , smooth coat .
