Montgomery County ArkansasGenWeb Project
Montgomery Co. Genealogical Resources 

A large sassafras tree down Brushy Rd, Oden, AR near a former 1930s  home site.

This sassafras tree of the laurel family is common in eastern US. It is one of the first trees to reforest pastures were the land is light and moist as cattle do not like the suckers. It is stout with horizontal rugged branches and can obtain heights of 100 feet. The bark of old trees is thick and gray, with longitudinal scaly ridges. The dark blue berries are soon taken by the birds and leaves in autumn deepen from soft yellow to a dark red hue. The tree has an aromatic bark and leaves. To make sassafras tea you need to dig up the sucker roots, a long time American remedy for colds and a tonic, being a sudorific (causes you to sweat) and a stimulant. It is an ingredient in Root Beer. The oil, safrole, of the sassafras was used for soap and perfumes but it is now regarded as a possible carcinogen, its use in foods and beverages is banned in the US. Photo taken in March, 2008.