# Presentation: 029184

## sassafrasSassafras albidum (Nuttall) Nees  Synonyms:  Euosmus albida, Laurus albida, L. albidus, L. diversifolia,                                                          L. sassafras,L. variifolia, Persea sassafras, Sassafras laurus, S. officinale,  S. officinarum, S. sassafras, S. triloba, S. trilobium, S. variifolium, Tetranthera albida.  Other common names: common sassafras, white sassafras, saxifrax, sassahura,mitten tree, ague tree, cinnamon wood, gumbo filé, gumbo, saloop, smelling stick, laurier des Iroquois. 

**PLANT FACTS:**
- Sassafras grows in all states east of the Mississippi River.  It belongs to the laurel family and is one of the few plants which has more than one shape of leaf.  It spreads by root runners much more often than it does by seed.
- In the autumn deep blue berries called "drupes" are sought out by many birds for food.
- Near Canada it may grow no larger than a shrub.  The farther south you go the longer growing season allows for it to grow much larger.  It is generally 40 to 50 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 12 to 36 inches.
- Nationally, the largest sassafras tree is found in Owensboro, Kentucky.  It is 78 feet tall, has a canopy of 69 feet and a trunk diameter of 262 inches.  It is estimated to be over 250 years old.

- Photo courtesy of:  ©William S. Justice. Courtesy of _[Smithsonian Institution, Dept. of Systematic Biology, Botany](http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/index.html#?collections)_. This copyrighted image may be freely used for any non-commercial purpose. For commercial use please contact _[George F. Russell](mailto:russell.rusty@nmnh.si.edu)_. Please credit the artist, original publication if applicable, and the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. The following format is suggested and will be appreciated:   **William S. Justice** @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

- Slide developed by Pat Broyles, Soil Conservationist, Manhattan, KS. PMC.  USDA is an equal opportunity employer.

## sassafras

**FOOD:**
- The leaves, bark and roots are all spicy and aromatic.  The Indians ground up the leaves and used them as a spice, much like bay leaves are today, in soups and stews.
- Colonists used young shoots as a component in making beer (root beer?).
- In England it became a very popular drink.  In London the inns would serve "saloop", a drink made of sassafras tea and warm milk.
- During the civil war because Asian tea was unattainable the leaves were dried and ground then used as a tea substitute.
- In the past the oil was used to flavor candies, chewing gum, root beer and tobacco.
- "Filé" is made from powdered leaves.  It is an important part of many Cajun foods.
- Today many people still boil the roots to make sassafras tea.

- Photo courtesy of:  ©R.A. Seelig. Courtesy of _[Smithsonian Institution, Dept. of Systematic Biology, Botany](http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/index.html#?collections)_. This copyrighted image may be freely used for any non-commercial purpose. For commercial use please contact _George F. Russell_.   Please credit the artist, original publication if applicable, and the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. The following format is suggested and will be appreciated:   **R.A. Seelig** @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

- Slide developed by Pat Broyles, Soil Conservationist, Manhattan, KS. PMC.  USDA is an equal opportunity employer.

## sassafras

**MEDICINALLY:**
- The Cherokees brewed it into a tea and drank it to treat diarrhea, colds, rheumatism, obesity, ague, to purify blood, and as a dewormer.  It was also used as an eyewash.  Made into a dressing it was placed on skin sores and wounds.
- Early European doctors believed the fumes from strong spices had curative powers.  Whenever there was an outbreak of bubonic plague the doctors wore nose beaks of sassafras to ward off the plague.
- Colonists used the oil to repel bedbugs, lice and fleas.
- Folklore taught many people to drink the tea as a spring restorative.
- The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the major chemical in sassafras oil is safrole, which is carcinogenic causing liver cancer.  In 1976 the FDA made it illegal to sell sassafras tea, its roots and the oil.
- Today no root beer or other product contains any oil with safrole as an ingredient.
- It takes about 250 pounds of root chips under steam pressure to get 1 quart of oil.

- Photo courtesy of:  ©William S. Justice. Courtesy of _Smithsonian Institution, Dept. of Systematic Biology, Botany_. This copyrighted image may be freely used for any non-commercial purpose. For commercial use please contact _George F. Russell_.   Please credit the artist, original publication if applicable, and the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. The following format is suggested and will be appreciated:   **William S. Justice** @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

- Slide developed by Pat Broyles, Soil Conservationist, Manhattan, KS. PMC.  USDA is an equal opportunity employer.

## sassafras

**CULTURALLY:**
- Sassafras has been cultivated in Europe for medicinal and flavoring uses since the Spanish brought it back from Florida in the 16th century.  It has been cultivated in the United States since 1630.
- The inner bark from the roots was once an important export to Europe.  In 1610 sassafras was so highly prized that the English crown made a condition of continually getting the oil from the Virginia colony before it was granted a charter.
- Historically, the lumber has been used to make rowboats, dugout canoes, crates, barrel staves, fence posts and pilings.  It is still used in boat construction because the wood is light, bendable and durable.
- The oil was added to soap and to perfumes for its fragrance.
- The flowers were used as a fertilizer when planting beans.

- Photo courtesy of: ©R.A. Seelig. Courtesy of _Smithsonian Institution, Dept. of Systematic Biology, Botany_. This copyrighted image may be freely used for any non-commercial purpose. For commercial use please contact _George F. Russell_. Please credit the artist, original publication if applicable, and the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. The following format is suggested and will be appreciated:   **R.A. Seelig** @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

- Slide developed by Pat Broyles, Soil Conservationist, Manhattan, KS. PMC.  USDA is an equal opportunity employer.