sassafras albidum

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Tree grows to 100ft (30m). The entire plant is edible. Eat the leaves., use roots for tea. This is one of the three ingredients in the original root beer recipe- sarsaparilla, sassafras and birch. Another way is to boil the roots, combine with molasses and allow to ferment. Voila- root beer. The tree is used for purifying the blood, stomach aches, rheumatism, skin problems, colds, fever, kidney, liver, problems, arthritis. The trees have many slender branches, and smooth, orangebrown bark. The bark of a full grown tree is thick, red-brown, and deeply furrowed. All parts of the plants are very fragrant when crushed. 3 different types of leaves on the same plant, oval, 2-lobe (mitten) and 3-lobed. Young leaves and twigs are best for consuming. Great on salads. They give a citrus-like scent when crushed. Delicious 5-petal tiny yellow flowers in clusters. Leaves can be dried and powdered and added to soups and gumbos. Fruit is blue-black eggshaped berry sized on a reddish cup/stem. Roots and leaves can be eaten raw or powdered or steamed. The root makes a good tea that tastes like root beer. Antiseptic, diuretic, vasodilator. Used to thin blood, cleanse liver, ease menstrual pain. Do not take for extended long periods or liver damage can occur because it contains safrole. Do not consume if pregnant or taking blood thinner.
Edible Plant Guide © 2012 Markus Rothkranz
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Acer saccharum 89 5816.0 41 10 Carya ovata 35 3682.0 63 28 Liriodendron tulipifera 33 5790.3 57 16 Aesculus octandra 29 3540.0 40 20 Tilia americana 21 2115.2 12 0 Quercus muehlenbergii 16 1657.8 4 3 Carya glabra 14 1158.6 10 2 Quercus alba 12 1617.0 18 9 Quercus rubra(*) 12 1906.3 39 9 Carya tomentosa 11 1144.5 6 4 Magnolia acuminata 6 563.6 3 2 Quercus prinus(*) 5 593.4 2 0 Liquidambar styraciflua(**) 4 302.5 1 0 Fraxinus americana(**) 3 177.2 0 0 Juglans nigra 3 369.1 0 0 Sassafras albidum 2 272.1 0 0 Quercus velutina(*) 1 100.5 12 0 Cornus florida(**) 1 41.5 0 0 Nyssa sylvatica(**) 1 49.3 0 0 Prunus serotina(**) 1 23.2 0 0 Ulmus americana(**) 1 22.5 0 0
Four species (Rhus copallinum, Liquidamber styraciflua, Sassafras albidum, and Diospyros virginiana) occurred in all three plots.
Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees.: (+); Sassafras; frequent; along west fence and in old field; BSUH 12312, 12313.
oaks Rhus copallina shining sumac Sassafras albidum sassafras Ulmus alata winged elm Vaccinium spp.
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a well-known tree.
X X Sassafras albidum X X Smilax rotundifolia X X Symphoricarpos orbiculatus X X Toxicodendron radicans X Ulmus alata X X Vaccinium sp.
Sassafras is the dried bark of the sassafras tree, Sassafras albidum, which is native to North America.
White oak had the highest mortality followed by Sassafras albidum (sassafras), Ulmus americana (American elm), and black gum.
Dominants consisted primarily of species of the overstory, exceptions being Ilex vomitoria, Cornus florida, Ulmus alata, and Sassafras albidum. The latter two species are potentially medium-sized trees but, with the exception of one or two trees of S.