Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-09, страница 72

Sassafras

There are three species, and at least one variety—Var. molle (Raf.) Fcmald, Red Sassafras—of Sassafras, and all are found in a large area ranging from southwestern Maine through New York State and southern Ontario, westward to southeastern iowa, south to eastern Texas and eastward to central Florida. These trees prefer moist, well-drained soils, but can be. found growing in nearly any soil condition. The better the soil conditions, the larger the tree will grow. While the differences between the species are significant to botanists, they bear little importance for the woodworker.

Under ideal conditions, specimens can grow in excess of 90 feet tall and over 3 feet in diameter. These instances, however, are somewhat rare; most tress are smaller, usually not more than 50 feet tall, and many remain brushy. This species has three distinctive features that make field identification easy. One is the shape of the leaves (when they are present); another is that the new growth is green; and a third is the spicy odor found on all parts of the tree.

Young stems will be green from the soil line to the tips of the twigs, and on older specimens the green will be limited to the twigs. The only other species with this strong of a coloration are Striped Maple (Acer pensvlvanicum, shown on page 73 alongside the Sassafras bark) and Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum). However, if you crush the stems, Sassafras will have a very spicy odor, and the maples will not.