Doryphora sassafras
Sassafras is a large tree, reaching between 10m to 30m high depending on conditions. In open areas it is generally shorter and with a broader canopy.
The bark is grey and generally smooth, with a trunk to 1m in diameter. This tree is easily recognised by the the dark green leaves which are opposite, aromatic and coarsely toothed, to around 10cm long. They have a distinctive pleasant scent, reminiscent of nutmeg. Sassafras flowers in late winter or early spring, with white star-shaped flowers usually three per leaf axil. The fruit are ovoid and about 12mm across, and hairy or fluffy. They appear from December to April.
Environmental Preferences
This tree grows in a variety of rainforest communities, north from Mount Dromedary on the NSW south coast to Queensland. In the Illawarra it is known to occur on the Illawarra coastal plain (including the richer volcanic soils of areas such as Mount Brown), riparian areas, and along the escarpment. It is a fairly common and widespread tree, though it prefers richer soils and fairly moist conditions. In the warm temperate rainforests of the upper escarpment, it can be the dominant tree species.
All information is from the Growing Illawarra Natives website. Read the full entry here
