Handbook of Trkks of tiik jSJ'orthekn States and Canada. 223 



The Sassafras is a tiro somotinios Su or 90 

 ft. in liciizht. Willi truiii^ from 4-G ft. in diuuie- 

 ttT, but is usiiully a coii-iilerahly smaller tree 

 and in tlie nortliern part of its range is re- 

 duced t(i a sliruli. \\ lien isolated its stout con- 

 torted brandies ramify and ultimately divide 

 into a |ii-ofusion of brancliiets, formin.ir a dis- 

 tinctly tIat-toi)ped irregular oblong head of 

 characteristic aspect. It is a handsome tree at 

 all seasons of the year; in the winter on ac 

 count of the unobstructed view of its red 

 brown furrowed bark and smooth green branch 

 lets; in spring on account of tlie tufts of pale 

 green velvety leaves and golden tlowers. sub- 

 tended by enlarged showy bud-scales which 

 terminate each branchlet; in summer on ac 

 count of its rich green leaves of many shapes 

 and sizes and re<l-steninjed clusters of blue 

 berries, and in autumn on account of the deli- 

 cate red and yellow tints of its autumn.il 

 garb. 



The wood of which a cu. ft. when absolutely 



dry weighs 31.42 lbs., is soft and brittle but 



very durable and is used in the manufacture 



of pails and buckets, for fence-posts, rails, etc- 



Lrarrs as di'sorilii'd fur the genus, .'!-7 in. lon<;. 

 FloH-cis appear in April and May. Fruit ripens 

 in August and September. See generic description, 

 this being the only species.' 



1. Syn. Sassafras officinale N. & E. 



2. A. W., II, 32. 



3. For genus see p. 436. 



