Common name: sassafras
Doryphora sassafras Endl. APNI* 
Description: Tree with young shoots and inflorescences silky-pubescent.
Leaves elliptic to lanceolate or ovate, usually 3–10 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, margins shallowly to deeply toothed, glabrous and glossy, with a pleasant `sassafras' scent when crushed; petiole 5–15 mm long.
Flowers 3-merous. Perianth segments 6, 10 mm long, whitish. Androecium usually 4-seriate, an outer whorl of 6 stamens, and 2 or 3 inner whorls of staminodes. Carpels usually 8–12. Receptacle 10–20 mm long, glabrous, fruit c. 10 mm long, hairy.
Flowering: early spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread on the coast and ranges north from the Bega district.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, CWS
Other Australian states: Qld
Varieties are sometimes distinguished, but they are linked throughout their geographic and altitudinal range by many collections with intermediate characters.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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