yellowwood tree with brittle wood and aromatic leaves and bark; source of sassafras oil; widely distributed in eastern North America
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dried root bark of the sassafras tree
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Sassafras \Sas"sa*fras\, n. [F. sassafras (cf. It. sassafrasso, sassafras, Sp. sasafras, salsafras, salsifrax, salsifragia, saxifragia), fr. L. saxifraga saxifrage. See {Saxifrage}.] (Bot.) An American tree of the Laurel family ({Sassafras officinale}); also, the bark of the roots, which has an aromatic smell and taste.
{Australian sassafras}, a lofty tree ({Doryophora Sassafras}) with aromatic bark and leaves.
{Chilian sassafras}, an aromatic tree ({Laurelia sempervirens}).
{New Zealand sassafras}, a similar tree ({Laurelia Nov[ae] Zelandi[ae]}).
{Sassafras nut}. See {Pichurim bean}.
{Swamp sassafras}, the sweet bay ({Magnolia glauca}). See {Magnolia}.