Doryphora sassafras

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Doryphora sassafras
Doryphora sassafras flower.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Atherospermataceae
Genus: Doryphora
Species:
D. sassafras
Binomial name
Doryphora sassafras

Doryphora sassafras, commonly known as sassafras, yellow sassafras, golden deal or golden sassafras, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the Southern Sassafras Family Atherospermataceae [[endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub to tree with elliptic or egg-shaped leaves and contrasting white flowers which occur in autumn and winter.

Contents

Habit in the Australian National Botanic Gardens Doryphora sassafras habit.jpg
Habit in the Australian National Botanic Gardens
Leaf Doryphora sassafras, leaf detail.jpg
Leaf

Description

Doryphora sassafras is a shrub or tree that typically grows to 2.5–36 m (8 ft 2 in – 118 ft 1 in). [2] [3] Its leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, [4] elliptic to lanceolate or ovate, 30–110 mm (1.2–4.3 in) long and 15–40 mm (0.59–1.57 in) wide on a petiole 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long. [2] The edges of the leaves are shallowly to deeply toothed, glabrous and glossy, and both surfaces have a prominent midvein. [2] All parts of the tree have a spicy smell, [5] but should be treated with "some caution", since the plant contains the poisonous alkaloid doryphorine. [6] Each individual leaf on a sassafras has a lifespan up to 12 years. [7]

The flowers are white with 6 tepals in 2 whorls mostly 7–13 mm (0.28–0.51 in) long and 2.5–4 mm (0.098–0.157 in) wide, the androecium with usually 4 whorls with 6 stamens and 14 to 18 staminodes, and there are 8 to 12 carpels. Flowering occurs from May to October and the achenes are 3.5–5 mm (0.14–0.20 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) in diameter. [2]

Taxonomy

Doryphora sassafras was first described in 1837 by Austrian naturalist Stephan Endlicher in 1837 in his Iconographia generum plantarum . [8] [9] 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 ). [10] It is a member of the small Southern Sasafrass family (Atherospermataceae) along with several other Australian and Patagonian rainforest trees including southern sassafras ( Atherosperma moschatum ).

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 ). [10]

Ecology

Male mosquitoes and crane flies are attracted to the flowers of sassafras, but although they are nectarivores, in their struggle to feed, they pollinate the flowers. [5]

Uses

Timber

The yellowish soft timber is used in floors, turnery, and cabinet work. [10]

Use in horticulture

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. [11] It has been planted in Dublin area in Ireland [12]

Related Research Articles

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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, with two species native to southern Chile and 12 species native to Australasia. Wood is commercially harvested from rainforest species of this family, and is used both in construction and in fine cabinet making.

<i>Solanum aviculare</i> Species of plant

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<i>Grevillea longifolia</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to New South Wales, Australia

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<i>Banksia littoralis</i> Species of tree in the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west of Western Australia

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<i>Elaeocarpus reticulatus</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae

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<i>Atherosperma</i> Genus of trees

Atherosperma moschatum, the southern sassafras or blackheart sassafras, is an evergreen tree native to the cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales in Australia. It is common in the rainforests of Tasmania and Victoria, but more scattered and rare in the higher altitudes of eastern New South Wales. The northernmost area is at Mount Grundy, west of Port Macquarie.

<i>Doryphora</i> Genus of flowering plants

Doryphora is a genus of 2 species of flowering plants in the family Atherospermataceae that are endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus Doryphora are medium-sized to tall trees with glabrous, leathery, sometimes serrated leaves, and flowers usually arranged in groups of 3, each flower with both make and female parts, usually 4 or 6 tepals, 6 stamens and 6 to 12 carpels.

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<i>Daphnandra johnsonii</i> Species of tree

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<i>Acronychia laevis</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Pomaderris ferruginea</i> Species of shrub

Pomaderris ferruginea, commonly known as rusty pomaderris, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a shrub with rusty-hairy stems, egg-shaped leaves, and clusters of cream-coloured, whitish or yellow flowers.

<i>Epacris pulchella</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Styphelia sieberi</i> Species of shrub

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<i>Micrantheum ericoides</i> Species of shrub

Micrantheum ericoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Picrodendraceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a small, heath-like, monoecious shrub with linear to narrowly elliptic leaves, and small white or pinkish flowers arranged singly or in pairs.

<i>Gastrodia sesamoides</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Olearia myrsinoides</i> Species of shrub

Olearia myrsinoides, commonly known as silky daisy-bush or blush daisy bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a spreading shrub with hairy branchlets, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves with toothed edges, and white and yellow or mauve, daisy-like inflorescences.

<i>Pultenaea villosa</i> Species of legume

Pultenaea villosa, commonly known as hairy bush-pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with softly-hairy foliage, narrow elliptic to linear, oblong to club-shaped leaves, and yellow-orange and reddish-brown, pea-like flowers.

<i>Hovea longipes</i> Species of legume

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<i>Eriostemon banksii</i> Species of flowering plant

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References

  1. "Doryphora sassafras". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Foreman, Donald B.; Whiffin, Trevor J. "Doryphora sassafras". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  3. Floyd, Alexander G. 1990: Australian Rainforests in New South Wales, Volume 1. Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Ltd, Chipping Norton, NSW.
  4. Fairley, A.; Moore, P. (2000). Native Plants of the Sydney District: An Identification Guide (2nd ed.). Kenthurst, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 53. ISBN   0-7318-1031-7.
  5. 1 2 Robinson, Les (1991). Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press P/L. pp. 353–354. ISBN   0864171927.
  6. Cribb, Alan B.; Cribb, Joan W. (1974). Wild Food in Australia. Sydney: Fontana. p. 174. ISBN   0006344364.
  7. Lowman, Marguerite (1992). "Leaf Growth Dynamics and Herbivory in five species of Australian rain-forest canopy trees". Journal of Ecology. 80 (3): 433–447. Bibcode:1992JEcol..80..433L. doi:10.2307/2260689. JSTOR   2260689 . Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  8. "Doryphora sassafras". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government . Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  9. Endlicher, Stephan (1837). Iconographia generum plantarum. Vienna: F. Beck. p. X. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Floyd, Alexander G. (2009). Rainforest Trees of Mainland Southeastern Australia. Lismore, NSW: Terania Rainforest Publishing. pp. 87–88. ISBN   978-0-9589436-7-3.
  11. Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1989). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Vol. 3. Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 331. ISBN   0-85091-167-2.
  12. "Climatic zone plants". Earlscliffe. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2009-11-09.