Sassafras officinale

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• sassafras
• white sassafras
• silky sassifras
• Poor Man's Oak
• cinnamon wood
• mittenleaf
• Mitten tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tetranthera albida
• Persea sassafras
• Sassafras albidum var. molle
• Sassafras officinale var. albidum
• Sassafras variifolium var. albidum
• Sassafras albidum f. moldenkei
• Sassafras triloba var. mollis
• Sassafras variifolium
• Laurus sassafras
• Laurus albida
• Sassafras rubrum
• Sassafras officinarum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it follows the order Laurales and is a member of the family Lauraceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Sassafras.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across different continents. In Eastern Canada, it can be found growing within the province of Ontario. Its presence extends into the North-Central United States, specifically across the states of Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas. Furthermore, the species is also documented in Southeastern Europe, particularly in Romania. This wide distribution highlights the adaptable nature of the species across varying climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Sassafras albidum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it lives for many years and undergoes repeated cycles of growth and dormancy. As a long-lived woody deciduous tree, its developmental trajectory begins with seed germination, often requiring specific environmental triggers or stratification to break dormancy. Once established, the plant undergoes a period of vegetative growth, developing a robust root system and a distinct branching architecture that can include various leaf forms, such as entire, mitten-shaped, or three-lobed. Over its multi-year lifespan, it enters seasonal cycles where it produces fragrant flowers in the spring, followed by the development of fleshy drupes in the autumn. These fruits serve as a critical component of its reproductive cycle, as they are consumed by wildlife, facilitating seed dispersal. As a perennial, the plant demonstrates significant resilience and structural longevity, contributing to the stability of its forest ecosystem through its enduring presence and continuous contribution to the organic matter cycle.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sassafras albidum is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as both a tree and a shrub. As a self-supporting species, it does not function as a climber, relying instead on its robust structural integrity. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 15 m to a maximum of 20 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 19.12 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

19.12 m

Plant height min:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sassafras albidum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many temperate deciduous trees that optimizes carbon fixation under moderate light and temperature conditions. In terms of its structural composition, the plant exhibits a highly consistent stem specific density (SSD), with a mean value of 482 mg/cm³. This density is uniform across the measured parameters, as both the minimum (SSD_min) and maximum (SSD_max) recorded values are identical at 482 mg/cm³, indicating a stable and homogenous tissue density within the stem structure.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

482 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sassafras albidum is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized seed dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable across different environments. Following fertilization, the plant produces seeds with a relatively small mass, featuring a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0827425 g. The individual seed weight fluctuates within a specific range, with a minimum mass of 0.058 g and a maximum mass reaching 0.10101 g. To facilitate the spread of its offspring, the species utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Seed mass max:

0.10101 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0827425 g

Seed mass min:

0.058 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Sassafras albidum has 96 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include safrole, (E)-beta-ocimene, (E,Z)-alpha-Farnesene, (Z)-BETA-OCIMENE, (Z)-Nerolidol.

safrole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

(E)-beta-ocimene

1. Dr. Duke

(E,Z)-alpha-Farnesene

1. Dr. Duke

(Z)-BETA-OCIMENE

1. Dr. Duke

(Z)-Nerolidol

1. Dr. Duke

1,6-germacradien-5-ol

1. Dr. Duke

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

4-Allyl-1,2-(methylenedioxy)-benzene

1. Dr. Duke

5-methoxyeugenol

1. Dr. Duke

6-METHYL-5-HEPTEN-2-ONE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Sassafras albidum has 475 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, AChE-Inhibitor.

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Sassafras albidum has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts.

Extracts

1. Journal of the National Cancer Institute