Sassafras
Sassafras, an ornamental tree native to the eastern half of North America. The sassafras usually grows to a height of 30 to 60 feet (9 to 18 m) but may be as tall as 90 feet (27 m). It has small, fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers that appear before the leaves unfold in the spring. The smoothedged leaves have from one to three lobes. In autumn, the leaves turn a bright scarlet color, and red, fleshy stalks bear the bluish-black fruit.
The wood is moderately hard, fragrant, and durable. It is used in making boats, oars, fence posts, and boxes. The root bark is dried and used to make sassafras tea and a fragrance for soaps and perfumes. Sassafras oil is used in many floor and polishing oils. The oil is sometimes used as a food and beverage flavoring, although its use as such is prohibited in the United States because of a possible connection with liver cancer.
The sassafras of eastern North America is Sassafras albidum. A second species, S. tzumu, is native to China and Taiwan Both belong to the laurel family, Lauraceae.