HAN])li(_K>K OF TkEKS OF THE NoETHE.KIst StATES AND C'anada. i!ii3 



The Sassafras is a tree sometimes 80 or 90 

 ft. in height, with triinl< from 4-G ft. in diame- 

 ter, but is usually a considerably smaller tree 

 and in the northern part of its range is re- 

 duced to a shrub. \\ hen isolated its stout con- 

 torted branches ramify and ultimately divide 

 into a [irofu-^ion of liranchlets, forminn: a dis- 

 tinctly hat-topped irreguhir oblong head of 

 cha^acteri^^tic aspect. It is a handsome tree at 

 all seasons of the j-ear; 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 flowers, sub- 

 tended by enlarged showy bud-scales wdiich 

 terminate each branchlet; in summer on ac 

 count of its rich green leaves of many shapes 

 and sizes and red-stemmed clusters of blue 

 berries, and in autumn (m account of the deli- 

 cate red and yellow tints of its autunin-il 

 garb. 



The wood of which a cu. ft. when absolutely 



dry weighs 31.42 lbs., is soft and brittle b\it 



ven' durable and is used in the manufacture 



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



Learcs as described for the scnus. .■■1-7 in. lonii. 

 FJoirrr^ appear in .April and May. Fruit rifn-ns 

 in August and .Septemljor. See gencfic description, 

 this being tbe only species.^ 



1. Syn. Sassafras officinale M. & E 



2. A. W., 11, 32. 



3. For genus see p. 436. 



