The Sassafrass Tree

(the pictures of the sassafras were found on flickr and photobucket,)

The sassafras tea was one of the key ingredients in making root beer.
Sassafras is grown all over the east, and the largest tree is found in Kentucky. In Alabama, our sassafras is rather dense and short trees. They multiply like crazy around Central and South Alabama.
The leaves when crushed have a refreshing lemony scent. The leaves were used by the Creek Indians to ward off insects and to treat bites. The root is used for both a refreshing tea to drink and to make root beer. If you don't feel like going in the wild, pulling up a dense sassafras tree by the roots and boiling it's roots, all you have to do is go to the grocery store and find yourself some pappy's tea. I have this in my fridge. I love the smell of the tea and it has a great taste. You can drink it for iced tea or really cold. Some say sassafras tea makes your skin pretty and your hair long and shiny. This tree is one of Alabama's most refreshing smelling and internally refreshing plants....ahhh!
The bark from the sassafras was used also in essential oils. It's infused in soaps, shampoos and perfumes in Asia. There are some very smart individuals over there that perfect the use of this nice plant especially in production of camphor through out Asia.
Besides our beloved root beer and camphor, the white tail deer and bobwhites enjoy the comfort of it's leaves and twigs. There are numerous species that use this plant to nibble on or use it quite frequently. Enjoy your pappy's and have a great day!