SASSAFRAS. MULBERRY. 



(Sassafras.) (Morus.) 



The sassafras was one of the first American trees to be 

 described in Europe, where many fictitious properties were 

 early credited to its aromatic essences. The wood is not dis- 

 tinguished by unusual qualities, but trees are cut for lumber as 

 encountered with other and more valuable species in the forest. 

 The mucilaginous leaves are of three separate shapes. Some 

 have lobes on both sides of the central surface, others have 

 one lobe at one side so as to resemble mittens, while yet 

 others on the same branch have simple oval shapes. The 

 dark-blue berries on bright-red stems are so eagerly devoured 

 by birds as to be seldom seen. The characteristic flavor is 

 most pronounced in the bark of the root. 



The Red, White, and Black Mulberries are named from 

 the color of their fruits. The former, which is the American 

 species, has wood resembling that of the sassafras, only in that 

 it is not distinguished by unusual qualities. Its leaves, like 

 that of the sassafras, are of several shapes on the same tree. 

 The very sweet fruit resembles blackberries in form. (The 

 leaves used in silkworm-culture are from the Russian mulberry, 

 a cross between the white mulberry and black mulberry (M. 

 alba and M. nigra). j 



The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) is related to the sassafras. It 

 has been acclimated in California and from Charleston to Florida on the Atlantic. 

 In Asia, where the tree is native, it is the chief source of commercial camphor, 

 but in this country and in some others, trees, while thrifty, do not appear to secrete 

 the same quantities of camphor. The camphor tree is principally valued in the 

 United States for its appearance. The beautiful trees with their shining, ever- 

 green leaves are good to plant along sidewalks. The close-grained, aromatic, 

 yellowish wood is used in cabinet work and insect-proof chests. The leaves have 

 the odor of camphor which is however more widely diffused through the wood. 

 Twenty to fifty pounds of wood yield one pound of gum. The roots of the 

 Cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) contain camphor (India and Ceylon); 

 this is in addition to the uses of the bark as spice. The Cassia bark (Cinnamo- 

 mum cassia) affords cassia (Burmah and China) but no camphor. These last 

 two trees are sometimes seen in California, Florida and other Gulf States. 

 Also see Dewey, U. S. Div. Botany, Circular No. 12, Revised, etc. 



99 



