SASSAFllAS. 



2;39 



^ m* 4 iiincrmnsi, nsually aliortive ; aiitliors npcninpf by 2 or 4 npliftod 

 valves. Ovary ] -celled, l-ovuled ; style solitary. Fruit a 1 seeded beny 

 or drupe. 



A lar<j;e order of aromatic plants, cliicHy tropicid, represented in North 

 America by only about bait a dozen species. Of the tropical species the 

 most iiin)ortant are (Janqihara (/ificiiiavuii), which yields ^uni-caniphor, 

 and the various s])ecies of C'iiiiKnuoDitcn, from Avhich are derived the ciu- 

 namon and cassia of commerce. 



SASSAFUAS. 



Sassafras officinale Necs.- -.sV/W/y/.s'. 



/><:<criii/ii>ii. — Flowers di(ecious. Calyx fi-parted, spreadiu'jf. Sterile 

 ilowers with 9 stamens i'.i \i rows, Ihe iii'ier row with a pair of stalked 



^■m \lk 



■^ "¥. 





I' Hi, l.Ti. — i<usHiifnis otnciiiulo. 



glands at the base of each ; anthers 4-celled, 4-valved. Fertile flowers with 

 G rudimentary stai ons ntid an ovoid ovary. Fruit a blue, ovoid drupe, 

 raised npon a reddish jjcdicel, which is tlii<'kcned and cup shaped at its 

 extremity. 



Northwaid comn^^nly a tall shrub or s.nall tiee, 10 to 2o feet liicrh ; 

 further south, an- especially in rich soil, it often attains a height of 40 

 t(i fiO feet, with a dianiete. of 2 to ;J feet. Leaves 4 to 5 inches long, ovate 

 I'.nd entire, or variously lobed ; some of tliein re'jfularly i^ lobed, others 

 n:itten-shaped. Flowers gn.'enish-yelhjw, naked, clustered in peduneled 



