These "forest giants" wearing "golden armor" are actually the "living map" of the Jiangnan forests

In early February, a friend sent me a photo of a Sassafras. In fact, in the mountains and forests of Jiangnan, there is a magical tree - Sassafras. It is not only a herald of spring, but also a treasure gifted by nature, exuding a unique charm. Today, let us unveil the mysterious veil of Sassafras.

Plant Archives Revealed

Sassafraszumu (Hemsl.) Hemsl., also known as half-wind camphor, goose-foot board, and mountain ash tree, is a national third-level protected plant. As a large deciduous tree of the genus Sassafraszumu in the Lauraceae family, it has a unique identity in the plant world.

The forest giant in golden armor

An adult Sassafras is like a giant in the forest. It can grow up to 35 meters in height and 2.5 meters in diameter at breast height. It is very conspicuous in the broad-leaved forests of the south of the Yangtze River. Its bark is very distinctive. When it is young, it is yellow-green like jasper. As time goes by, the old bark turns gray-brown and cracks vertically, as if telling the story of the years. The newly grown leaves are like goose feet. The ovate or obovate leaves can be up to 18 cm long. In autumn, the leaves turn golden yellow. The scenery is simply beautiful. In early spring from February to March, the golden flowers of the Sassafras tree bloom before the leaves, just like sprinkling gold foil on the branches. In August and September, it will produce blue-black fruits that look like they are coated with icing sugar (with white wax powder on the surface).

Living Map of Jiangnan Mountains and Forests

Sassafras is mainly distributed in the hilly and mountainous areas south of the Yangtze River, such as Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Hubei. It can be found from low hills of 150 meters to high mountains of 1,900 meters, and has strong adaptability.

An all-round player with all the treasures

"Transformers" in the wood world: Sassafras wood has a wide range of uses. It is light and soft yet very tough, and has strong corrosion resistance, making it particularly suitable for shipbuilding keels. Its wood grain is elegant and stable, and it can often be seen in high-end furniture from the Ming Dynasty. It is also easy to shape, and is loved by sculptors, and is often used to carve statues of gods and Buddhas.

The "rheumatism killer" in the pharmacopoeia: the root bark of Sassafras is very powerful. It can be used as a decoction to treat injuries from falls, and can also be applied externally to relieve lumbar muscle strain, because it contains active ingredients such as safrole. In Zhejiang, there is also a custom of boiling water with it to soak feet, which is said to be able to dispel cold and dampness. This "Sassafras soup" is really amazing.

The "invisible assistant" of the industrial sector: The oil content of Sassafras seeds exceeds 20%, which can be used to extract industrial lubricants; its leaves and fruits can also be used to extract aromatic oils, which are precious raw materials for the perfume industry. Unexpectedly, it also plays an important role in the industrial field.

5. “Social Experts” in the Forest

Sassafras is also very smart in terms of ecology. When mixed with Chinese fir (1:2 row spacing), the volume of accumulation increased by 107% after 13 years compared with pure forest, which is simply the best mixed partner. Its deep root system and wide canopy can intercept 200 tons of rainwater per hectare during heavy rain, making it a little expert in soil and water conservation. Moreover, as one of the earliest flowering trees, it also provides a key nectar source for early spring pollinating insects.

A tree with a unique personality

There are many interesting aspects of the cultivation of Sassafras. Its seedlings are afraid of cold and sun, so they need to be wrapped in "moss down jackets" when transplanting in winter. Gardeners also found that it has a strong ability to sprout after cutting the stem, and often use iron wire to shape it into the shape of a "welcoming pine". However, it also has a fatal weakness, and it is prone to sunburn. In midsummer, it needs to be "shaded" with an umbrella and a shade shed.

Disappearing "living fossils"

Unfortunately, due to over-logging, the wild Sassafras population has been listed as Near Threatened (NT) by the IUCN. However, a special protection area has been established in Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang Province, and artificial pollination has been carried out to increase the fruiting rate, hoping to protect this precious species.

From shipbuilding keels to secret recipes for medicine chests, from spring golden flowers to autumn colorful leaves, Sassafras has written its own legend among the mountains and rivers of the south of the Yangtze River. Next time you go hiking in the mountains, you might want to pay attention to it. You may see its tall and straight figure on a sunny slope.