Sassafras

genus of plants

Sassafras is a genus that contains three[1][2] current and one extinct[3] species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae. It was originally in eastern North America and eastern Asia.[2]

Sassafras
Sassafras albidum,
Wanaque, New Jersey
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
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Genus:
Sassafras

Species

S. albidum
S. randaiense
S. tzumu

Synonyms

Pseudosassafras Lecomte

Sassafras trees grow from 9.1–18 m (30–59 ft) tall and from 7.6–12 m (25–39 ft) wide.[4] The trunk grows 70–150 cm (28–59 in) across.

"Sassafras" was named by the botanist Nicolas Monardes in the 16th century. It is said to be a corruption of the Spanish word for saxifrage.

Species change

 
Fossil Sassafras hesperia leaf

References change

  1. Flora of North America: Sassafras
  2. 2.0 2.1 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 (1–4): 191–203. doi:10.1007/s00606-007-0550-1. S2CID 44051126.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Wolfe, Jack A. & Wehr, Wesley C. 1987. "Middle Eocene Dicotyledonous Plants from Republic, Northeastern Washington". United States Geological Survey Bulletin 1597:13
  4. Dirr, Manual of woody landscape plants. Page 938.

Other websites change

  Media related to Sassafras at Wikimedia Commons