''Doryphora sassafras'', commonly known as sassafras, yellow-, canary- or golden sassafras, or golden deal, is a species of evergreen tree of the family

Atherospermataceae The Atherospermataceae, commonly known as the southern sassafrases, are a family of broadleaf evergreen trees and shrubs. The family includes 14 species in seven genera. The atherosperms are today mostly distributed in the Southern Hemisphere, w ...

native to the

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

and temperate rainforests of eastern New South Wales and Queensland,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It is a tall tree with green foliage and contrasting white flowers which occur in Autumn and Winter.

Taxonomy

''Doryphora sassafras'' was first described by Austrian naturalist

Stephan Endlicher Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher also known as Endlicher István László (24 June 1804, Bratislava (Pozsony) – 28 March 1849, Vienna) was an Austrian botanist, numismatist and Sinologist. He was a director of the Botanical Garden of Vienna. Bio ...

in 1837. Its generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek ''dory-'' "spear" and ''pherein'' "to carry", and refers to the anthers in the flower, while its specific epithet is taken from its similar odour to the North American Laurel ('' Sassafras albidum''). It is a member of the small family

along with several other Australian rainforest trees including southern sassafras ('' Atherosperma moschatum''). Common names include Canary Sassafras, Yellow Sassafras, Golden Sassafras, Golden Deal or simply Sassafras.

Description

''Doryphora sassafras'' can grow to a height of 25–35 m (80–110 ft). Floyd, Alexander G. 1990: ''Australian Rainforests in New South Wales, Volume 1''. Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Ltd, Chipping Norton, NSW. It is a straight-trunked tree generally with a small crown, its grey-brown trunk reaching a diameter of 1.2 m (4 ft). Oppositely arranged on the stem, the green leaves are elliptic to lanceolate or ovate, usually 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, 2–4 cm wide, margins are shallowly to deeply toothed, glabrous and glossy, with a pleasant 'sassafras' scent when crushed. They have a prominent midrib and veins on the paler underside. Perhaps their most noteworthy feature is their lifespan; up to twelve years for each leaf. The small white flowers occur in groups of three on short axillary stalks from May to July, and are followed by dark brown hairy fruit which are ripe from February to August. The flowering display can be showy with flowers massed on branches. contrasting against the darker foliage.

Distribution and habitat

The distribution is from Nambour in southern Queensland through eastern New South Wales to Wolumla Peak in Yurammie State Forest. It is found in temperate rainforest on basalt soils at higher elevations and sedimentary soils at lower elevations, commonly associated with Coachwood ('' Ceratopetalum apetalum'') and native crabapple ('' Schizomeria ovata'').

Cultivation and uses

The yellowish soft timber is used in floors, turnery, and cabinet work. It is used in reforestation but generally grows too big to be used in home gardens. It has been thought to have potential as a potted specimen. It has been planted in Dublin area in Ireland

Gallery

Image:Doryphora sassafras flowers St Ives 2.jpg, Sassafras flowers and leaves, St Ives North,

Image:Doryphora sassafras, leaf detail.jpg, leaf

References

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q4166636 Atherospermataceae Laurales of Australia Trees of Australia Flora of New South Wales