VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Sassafras albidum | Sassafras 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Sassafras wood is soft, brittle, light, and has limited commercial value
[41].  It is durable, however, and is used for cooperage, buckets,
fenceposts, rails, cabinets, interior finish, and furniture [24,41,83].
Carey and Gill [9] rate its value for firewood as good, their middle
rating.


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Sassafras leaves and twigs are consumed by white-tailed deer in both
summer and winter.  In some areas it is an important deer food [41].
Sassafras leaf browsers include woodchucks, marsh rabbits, and black
bears [83].  Rabbits eat sassafras bark in winter [8].  Beavers will cut
sassafras stems [15].  Sassafras fruits are eaten by many species of
birds including northern bobwhites [58], eastern kingbirds, great
crested flycatchers, phoebes, wild turkeys, catbirds, flickers, pileated
woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, thrushes, vireos, and mockingbirds.
Some small mammals also consume sassafras fruits [16,65,75,83].

For most of the above mentioned animals, sassafras is not consumed in
large enough quantities to be important.  Carey and Gill [9] rate its
value to wildlife as fair, their lowest rating.


PALATABILITY : 
Palatability of sassafras to white-tailed deer is rated as good
throughout its range [41].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The nutritional value of sassafras winter twigs is fair [67].  Seasonal
changes in nutrient composition of sassafras leaves and twigs has been
reported.  Crude protein ranged from a high of 21.0 percent in April
leaves to a low of 6.1 in January twigs [7].

Sassafras fruits are high in lipids and energy value [85].


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Sassafras is used for restoring depleted soils in old fields [41].

Sassafras occurs on sites that have been largely denuded of other
vegetation by the combination of frequent fire and toxic emissions from
zinc smelters.  Sassafras persistence on these sites is attributed to
root sprouting; seedling reproduction is severely curtailed by the high
level of toxins in the soil [52].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Sassafras oil is extracted from the root bark for use by the perfume
industry, primarily for scenting soaps.  It is also used as a flavoring
agent and an antiseptic [41,83].  Large doses of the oil may be narcotic
[83].  Root bark is also used to make tea, which in weak infusions is a
pleasant beverage, but induces sweating in strong infusions.  The leaves
can be used to flavor and thicken soups [41,83].  The mucilaginous pith
of the root is used in preparations to soothe eye irritations [83].

Because of its durability, sassafras was used for dugout canoes by
Native Americans [49].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Overstory removal often results in an increase in sassafras stems,
particularly by sprouting [81].  Sassafras thickets may displace more
desirable species for a short time, but few sassafras stems will occupy
space in the overstory [62].  Some herbicides control sassafras [5].
Complete top-kill was achieved with injection of 2,4-D, picloram, and
glyphosate, with no apparent sprouting 2 years after treatment [66].
Arsenal (an imidazolinone-based herbicide) also controls sassafras [57].
Other herbicides do not control root sprouting [33,62].

Dense stands of sassafras are difficult to convert to pine or more
desirable hardwoods [41].  Mowing is not effective in controlling
sassafras; root sprouts quickly replace or increase aboveground stems
[5].

Sassafras is difficult to transplant because of the sparse, far-ranging
root system [75].

In North Carolina, mechanical removal of all nondesirable stems
(intensive silvicultural cleaning) increased the amount of sassafras
browse available to white-tailed deer. .  Prior to the cleaning,
sassafras was out of reach of the deer; sprouts arising after the
cleaning were within reach [18].

Major diseases of sassafras include leaf blight, leaf spot, Nectria
canker and American mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens) [41].

Insect pests of sassafras are mostly minor; the most damaging insects
are the larvae of wood-boring weevils, gypsy moths, loopers, and
Japanese beetles [41].

Sassafras is extremely sensitive to ozone [43].

Related categories for Species: Sassafras albidum | Sassafras