FOREST TREES OF ILLINOIS

Sassafras Sassafras albidium (Nutt.) Nees

Characteristics

Leaves: Simple, alternate, 3 different shaped leaves, 3 lobed, 2 lobed, and unlobed, tapers to base, 6 inches in length, slick edges, green and slick on top surface, lighter and fuzzy or slick on lower surface, orange, red, and yellow in fall.

Flowers: Flowers are either staminate or pistillate, and are located on separate trees. Appear in small groups as leaves unfold. Are 1/3 inch in length and yellowish-green in color.

Fruit: Navy berries, 1/3 inch in length in deep red cups, stalks up to 2 inches long.

Twig: Greenish in color, fragrant, thin & smooth in shape; alternating, half moon shaped leaf scars, commonly found with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Pointed at tips, oval in shape, green in color, up to 1/4 inch in length.

Bark: Green to gray as a sapling, deeply furrowed and red to brown as an adult.

Form: Small, up to 40 feet, rarely up to 80 feet, 2 feet wide trunk rarely as much as 6 feet, flat crown, irregular shaped

Habitat: Old fields, woods, and roadsides

Range: "Maine across to Michigan and (formerly) Wisconsin, south to Texas, east to Florida."

Wood & Uses: Orangish brown in color, a soft, weak wood; used for fence posts, and roots boiled for tea

Distinguishing Features: Distinctively shaped, fragrant leaves, green colored twigs

Location: Mattoon, Illinois.

Sources Cited: Mohlenbrock, Robert. (N.D.). Forest Trees of Illinois. Springfield, IL: Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Contact Information- lstarwalt@cumberland.k12.il.us

Link to Native Trees of Illinois index page