. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. Trees of Illinois 189 SASSAFRAS OFFICINALE Nees and Ebermaier Sassafras The Sassafras tree is generally of only very moderate size, with a flat-topi)ecl head of rather stout branches which extend almost horizontally from the trunk. The firm and often rather leathery, dark-green leaves, 4 to G inches long by 2 to -i inches wide and more or less hairy beneath, commonly have 3 or 3 very distinct, large, and characteristic apical lobes. The petioles are from ')i to lYi inches long. The small, greenish flowers stand on short stalks along a central axis
. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. Trees of Illinois 189 SASSAFRAS OFFICINALE Nees and Ebermaier Sassafras The Sassafras tree is generally of only very moderate size, with a flat-topi)ecl head of rather stout branches which extend almost horizontally from the trunk. The firm and often rather leathery, dark-green leaves, 4 to G inches long by 2 to -i inches wide and more or less hairy beneath, commonly have 3 or 3 very distinct, large, and characteristic apical lobes. The petioles are from ')i to lYi inches long. The small, greenish flowers stand on short stalks along a central axis and form racemes about 'I inches long. The blue berries, which ri])en in the fall, are between ^ and ^ inch long and stand in scarlet cups at the tips of stalks 1>^ to 3 inches long. The bright-green, shiny branchlets bear globular buds about ^ inch long. The trunk is generally not over (i inches in diameter. The tree rises to an ordinary height of 30 or 40 feet; but nmch larger trees may be found. IJisfribufion: From Maine to Iowa and southward to Florida and Texas. Sassafras finds a natural home on rich and sandy, well-drained soils, often invading abandoned agricultural land. With the exception of our 3 northern tiers of counties, it ranges throughout Illinois, but it is most frequently met with to the south of the Illinois River. Though generally a small tree, it is known to have attained a height of 71 feet and a trunk circumference of over T feet, with a clear bole 52 feet 6 inches long, in the Wabash Valley. A tree standing 3 miles northwest of Maysville. Pike County, measured 33 inches in diameter but. being on open ground, it has a short trunk. Sassafras sometimes grows in pure stands, as at Foley's Mill, near Paris. Edgar County; but it is usually accompanied by other trees. On poor or abandoned land, its associates often are Persimmon and Sumach; but on bottomlands, as in Wayne County, they are Red Gum. River Birch, hickories, ash. and Swamp White Oak. In Fulton C
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Keywords: ., booka, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectnaturalhistory
