Sassafras
in botany: (1) a genus of Lauraceæ; diœcious, perianth six-parted males with nine fertile stamens in three rows, anthers four-celled; females with nine sterile stamens; fruit fleshy.
S. officinale (Laurus sassafras) is a large tree with yellowish flowers, growing in the United States. The dried leaves are very mucilaginous and are sometimes used for thickening soup. S. parthenoxylon, Oriental sassafras, growing in Sumatra, has medicinal qualities like those of S. officinale. (2) The English name of the genus, and of various trees more or less resembling it in properties, specifically, Doryphora sassafras, one of the plume nutmegs. The wood smells like fennel.
The smells like (Australian.) Brazilian sassafras is Nectandra cymbarum. In pharmacy, the dried root of Sassafras officinale. It is sold in branches, in pieces, or in chips, and is given as a stimulant and diaphoretic in chronic rheumatism, skin diseases, and syphilis. The bark is more powerful than the wood.
SATINET