Lauraceae

The Lauraceae family is represented in our area by two species, both of which are small deciduous trees.  The first is Sasafras (Sasafras albidum) and the second is Lindera benzoin, the spicebush.  Both of these are aromatic, and it points out some of the other kinds of aromatics you find in this family

 

Web Links Sasafras albidum - sasafras

 

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 The leaf of Sasafras is predictable, but there is variation with respect to the lobation.  The fall color of the leaves is striking.  Sasafras can be very attractive as an understory tree in woods along riverbanks.  Most are not that tall, but there are exceptions. This downed tree along a trail in Shenandoah National Park would represent that exception.

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 The leaves of Lindera benzoin, spicebush, are not all that definable, but the odor of the broken twig will give it away every time.

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 The flowers of spicebush appear before it the shrub leafs out.  You can see them as being somewhat conspicuous against the dark background of a river, which is the typical habitat of this species.

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 Spicebush fruits are common on any tree.  I saw a student get a very reddened eye from the juice of one of these fruits that accidentally got into his eye.  So, be careful squeezing these fruits or trying to open them up to see contents.