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Atherosperma moschatum
  • Black Sassafras

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Atherosperma genus in the family Atherospermataceae.

248px
Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid,neutral
    Very acid to Neutral
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Atherosperma moschatum has 0 edible uses listed
Atherosperma moschatum has 0 material uses listed
Atherosperma moschatum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The bark contains a potential carcinogen[1]. Another report says that the whole plant might be poisonous[2].

Edible uses

Notes

A pleasant tasting tea is made from the fresh or dried aromatic bark[3][4][5]. Some caution is advised in its use, see the notes on toxicity at top of the page.

Unknown part

Tea

Material uses

An essential oil is obtained from the plant, it is used medicinally[6]. Wood - tough, close grained, fairly soft, low in tannin. Used for cabinet making, turnery etc[7][8].

Unknown part

Essential
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Antiasthmatic, antirheumatic, aperient, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, tonic. A powerful poison, it is useful in treating rheumatism, syphilis and bronchitis[2][1][7].

Unknown part

Antiasthmatic
Antirheumatic
Aperient
Cardiac
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Laxative
Tonic
VD

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[9].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Atherosperma moschatum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a rich well composted lime-free soil in full sun or semi-shade[9]. Succeeds in acid and neutral soils[10].

Plants are not very hardy in Britain, requiring greenhouse treatment in most areas, but they succeed outdoors in a woodland garden in the milder areas of the country[11]. Another report says that plants are fairly hardy when grown in a sheltered position[12]. A tree at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens is 3 metres tall and flowers annually, whilst there are trees 6 metres tall in Cornwall[12]. Plants can tolerate short-lived frosts to about -5°c if they are well sited and sheltered from cold drying winds[9]. Plants come into flower when they are quite young. All parts of the plant are aromatic[10][13]. The flowers diffuse a sweet perfume whilst the nuts have a musk-like fragrance similar to nutmegs[13].

Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Atherosperma moschatum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Atherosperma moschatum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Atherosperma moschatum
Genus
Atherosperma
Family
Atherospermataceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[2][1][7]
Material uses & Functions
[6][7][8]
Botanic
[12][7][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Canopy
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    30 x 10 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious

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    "image:Atherosperma - Leura3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Atherosperma - Leura3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Atherosperma - Leura3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Atherosperma - Leura3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants. ()
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.4 Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria. ()
    8. ? 8.08.1 Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney ISBN 0-00-216441-8 (1981-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30258-2 (1989-00-00)
    11. ? Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent (1990-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)

    "image:Atherosperma - Leura3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Atherosperma_moschatum&oldid=75427"
    Facts about "Atherosperma moschatum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyAtherospermataceae +
    Belongs to genusAtherosperma +
    Has common nameBlack Sassafras +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +
    Has edible useTea +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has hardiness zone9 +
    Has imageAtherosperma - Leura3.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useEssential + and Wood +
    Has mature height30 +
    Has mature width10 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiasthmatic +, Antirheumatic +, Aperient +, Cardiac +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Laxative +, Tonic + and VD +
    Has primary imageAtherosperma - Leura3.jpg +
    Has search nameatherosperma moschatum + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid + and Neutral +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAtherosperma moschatum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +