Sunday, November 25, 2018

Sassafras Tree! (Native Tree With Mittens)



How wonderful it is to learn the names of the native trees that I see on our walks!  Years ago (and please don't ask me how many, they skip along merrily these days!) I was on a walk with the ranger at Arabia Mountain (Ranger Robbie, I have mentioned him before!)  He showed us the leaves of a small tree beside the trail.  It had THREE different leaves and he identified it as a sassafras tree!  Now, on our walks I am pleased to tell you that I am able to identify it.  (Although I never trust myself though, I am constantly looking it up to make sure I am correct.)  Many years ago, people would make tea from the bark of the tree but it is now known that it causes cancer, so no matter what you may read otherwise, please do NOT make tea from the sassafras tree!  Just enjoy the beauty of it, the autumnal colors can be red, yellow and orange...all on the same tree.  I found the most wonderful article written about it -click on the link that I have given you below:

The Tree With Red Mittens   


Yes, my friend, it has a leaf that looks like a mitten! Isn't that marvelous? It will also have a leaf that is just a single leaf and perhaps another another leaf with three bits...oh, I am wording this in a strange way.   ( Sassafras trees have ovate lobe-less leaves, two-lobed leaves, and three-lobedleaves) 

Look, I will show you some photos...


  This was taken on the trail at the Monastery, just before you get to the pedestrian bridge that crosses over busy Hwy. 212 in Rockdale county.





Oh dear, I only have one leaf that is like a mitten! Oh well, most of them were still on the tree for me to enjoy. SASSAFRAS!  I even like the word itself.  Love the colors of this season.  I have more tree photos that we have taken on our walks. More trees for you to see!
It has almost been a whole week since I have written a post.  I do so hope that I will have more energy for my blog.  Wish me luck with that!  

28 comments:

  1. My blogging has become rare and rarer, too; there just always seem to be so many other things claiming my attention right now. Never mind - your blog will still be there when you have time (and engery!) for it, as will your readers!
    The sassafras tree is intriguing. I have not clicked on the link to the article; maybe you can answer my question: Have the different shaped leaves something to do with "male" and "female" in the same tree? I know most trees are either male or female, and need either a partner of the other gender or insects (or both) to pollinate and spread new saplings, but I think I have read somewhere that there are also tress that have both genders at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sassafras albidum and Sassafras hesperia are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees, while Sassafras tzumu and Sassafras randaiense have male and female flowers occurring on the same trees. As you can tell, I am not an expert but I did find that info I just copy and pasted for you!
      I have been so sick this week, I have made it to work but it has been a struggle. Oh well, hopefully I will get better. Hope you are doing well and your Dad is improving every day.

      Delete
  2. Such a pretty tree, and i had no idea about three different shaped leaves, although i knew they were the basis for our filé for gumbo. It also is the flavor of root beer, from what i gather. Whenever you do have time to blog, i always learn something new.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! File gumbo! They mentioned it in that article, I think it is a powder made from the ground, dried leaves of the sassafras, so that is okay!
      And thank you, I appreciate you!

      Delete
  3. What a pretty tree and a nice walk
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since the trees have their colors change at different times, it has been fun to turn a corner and see a spectacular display of autumn leaves!

      Delete
  4. Lovely pictures, Kay! And though I've known about sassafras tea, I had no idea that it has been determined to cause cancer. Wow. Beautiful leaves though. Enjoy your holiday season!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kay! So happy to see your comment here!
      I didn't mention it but my Dad told me that he used to have sassafras tea all the time when he was a kid, and he is 91 now! Of course, I sometimes think that all the unhealthy things he did as a kid (he started smoking when he was nice years old!) it is a wonder that he has gotten to such a good age! Good genes, that accounts for a lot, I think.
      Hope you have happy holidays!

      Delete
  5. It is a beautiful tree. I love the mitten shape leaves. I have had sassafras tea, it's good. And I thought full of medical benefits, or so I thought until reading your post today. Maybe that is why I've not seen it around in while.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have a Sassafras tree on the edge of my yard. I love it. Even if you do not make tea, it is very fragrant as well as beautiful. I knew about this tree as a child because I was lucky enough to grow up in a time and place where we were taken on nature walks fairly often. There is a lot of controversy about whether it is harmful or beneficial or both, but I won't be drinking the tea any time soon....but I do enjoy my tree!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that it is sometimes called the "cinnamon" tree because of the fragrance! Just in case, I will leave that tea alone. Best not to take chances, there are so many known carcinogens.

      Delete
  7. The colors are so pretty. And I learned about sassafras leaves today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good! I hope that I have completely learned this tree by now. I just love it when I can identify a tree or flower!

      Delete
  8. I have heard often of the sassefras tree but never been able to imagine it. Now your photo has shown me. It is scary to think of all those people imagining they were curing themselves from cancer when in fact they were making it worse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey! Jenny Woolf! I thought of you today. I saw that Nov. 26th was the anniversary of the publication of "The Adventures of Alice In Wonderland"! Published in 1865! I know you know this but it is incredible how much one book can be so well known and loved around the world. I love that Lewis Carroll loved Eastbourne, it is a little fact that thrills me to know it. x

      Delete
  9. This is fascinating - thank you! I love the colours of this season, too, although I haven't been out in the woods much this autumn so please show us some more of your photos. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I will show you more of our autumn colors, they have been beautiful. x

      Delete
  10. I have heard of sassafras tea - but now I know that is a bad idea! But what a pretty tree, and unusual with its 'mittens'. I never tire of looking at those gorgeous Autumn colours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I really do love all the trees that I see even if I don't know all their names. There is one tree on our walk and I call it "my" tree...it is very tall with smallish leaves. Some kind of oak and the trunk is whitish with black stripes...no idea what it is!

      Delete
  11. I love the trees like this that have all the colors on them at once! So pretty! Our leaves are long gone and we've had snow already, Autumn never stays long enough!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have the longest summer and then our autumn is so welcome! I love the colors. I love snow too but only if it melts within a few hours! LOL.

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. Happy to have this on my post about the dear sassafras tree! I have so many trees to tell you about! Stay tuned! :-)

      Delete
  13. I'm fascinated by the tree and your post but was perturbed to hear that you're not well. I do hope by now you are on the mend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Graham! I went to the doctor today and am doing much better. You know, I always hope to get well with just my immune system but sometimes I tell my doctor, give me all the drugs you got! ☺ I am such a wimp.

      Delete
  14. Beautiful colors, something to treasure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! The colors are amazing in the Fall, I do wonder how many here stop to notice them.

      Delete