Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Sassafras albidum
White sassafras, Red sassafras
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Sassafras albidum molle

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire, lobed (pinnately), parted (pinnately) leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; lanceolate leaf shape

Inflorescence: raceme

Flowers: unisexual, dioecious; 3 merous; incomplete, not petals, regular; yellow, green; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: drupe

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed along roadsides, old fields, open woods. Species is distributed along roadsides.

ILPIN Notes: Terrestrial furbearers eat food such as fruit, bark, wood. Regarding aquatic species food value, this pertains to aquatic furbearers who also eat bark. Species is rare in northern 1/4 of state. Form - balled & burlapped, seedlings. Leaves have three different shapes - 3-lobed, 2-lobed, ovate; leaves are aromatic; green twigs; flowers in few-flowered clusters; blue drupes in deep red cups (sepals); only young leaves pubescent. Seed compnay numbers: 18, 20, 27, 29, 30, 33, 39, 46. Roots are used for tea; also the mucilaginous young leaves and pith of the stems are dried and used for gumbo soup thickener and a condiment; oil from roots and bark are used as a flavoring. Leaves are permanently pubescent on the lower surface. Terrestrial furbearers eat bark, fruit, and wood for food. Regarding aquatic species food value, this pertains to aquatic furbearers who also eat bark.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal: bird, bird - internal
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 2
  • Chicago Area: 3

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