black-sassafras
Atherosperma moschatum Labill.
Atherosperma moschatum, known as black-sassafras, is a species in the family Atherospermataceae. It is native to south-eastern Australia, including New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria. This plant can grow as a shrub or conical tree and is characterized by its hairy young branchlets, leaves, and flowers. Its leaves are lance-shaped to elliptic, and the flowers are white to cream with a perfumed scent. The fruit is an achene.
Description
Atherosperma moschatum, first described in 1806 by Labill., is the sole species in the genus Atherosperma. Common names for this plant include Australian sassafras, southern sassafras, native sassafras, and Tasmanian sassafras. It is found in south-eastern Australia and is distinguished by its hairy young parts and toothed leaf margins in some individuals. The flowers are notable for their fragrance, and the plant is adapted to a range of habitats in its native range.
Other common names
Tasmanian-sassafrasblack-sassafrassouthern-sassafrasBlackheart SassafrasSouthern Sassafras
Distribution
Global · New South Wales · Tasmania · Victoria
