Practical
Plants

Atherosperma moschatum

Black Sassafras

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
30 m
Spread
10 m
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bark contains a potential carcinogen[3]. Another report says that the whole plant might be poisonous[13].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A pleasant tasting tea is made from the fresh or dried aromatic bark[10][7][8]. Some caution is advised in its use, see the notes on toxicity at top of the page.

Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antiasthmatic, antirheumatic, aperient, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, tonic. A powerful poison, it is useful in treating rheumatism, syphilis and bronchitis[13][3][4].

Product or use
Antiasthmatic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Aperient
Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
VD

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil is obtained from the plant, it is used medicinally[1]. Wood - tough, close grained, fairly soft, low in tannin. Used for cabinet making, turnery etc[4][5].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Temperate rainforests and moist gullies up to the sub-alpine zone[2][3][4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[11].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a rich well composted lime-free soil in full sun or semi-shade[11]. Succeeds in acid and neutral soils[9]. 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[6]. Another report says that plants are fairly hardy when grown in a sheltered position[2]. A tree at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens is 3 metres tall and flowers annually, whilst there are trees 6 metres tall in Cornwall[2]. Plants can tolerate short-lived frosts to about -5°c if they are well sited and sheltered from cold drying winds[11]. Plants come into flower when they are quite young. All parts of the plant are aromatic[9][12]. The flowers diffuse a sweet perfume whilst the nuts have a musk-like fragrance similar to nutmegs[12]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-00-216441-8

    ↩

  6. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  7. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  9. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

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