Atherosperma
Encyclopedia
Atherosperma moschatum, the Southern Sassafras or Blackheart Sassafras is an evergreen
tree
native to the cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania
, Victoria
and New South Wales
in Australia
. It is common in the rainforests of Tasmania
and Victoria
, but more scattered and rare in the higher altitudes of eastern New South Wales
. The northernmost area is at Mount Grundy, west of Port Macquarie.
in 1806, and is the only member of the genus Atherosperma. Its generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek
ather "awn", and sperma "seed", from the hairs on the fruit, and the specific epithet moschatus is the Latin
adjective meaning "musk-scented", from the smell of the bark. It is a member of the small family Atherospermataceae
along with several other Australian rainforest trees including yellow sassafras (Doryphora sassafras
).
it can reach heights exceeding 40 metres and a width of a metre. It can be identified by the conical shape, the pale green leaves and fragrant scent.
The bark is grey to light brown, with numerous lenticels, raised bumps and ridges. The leaves are 3 to 10 cm long and 8 to 25 mm wide, margins are coarsely toothed, but the northern population in Monga National Park
, the Blue Mountains, Barrington Tops and at Mount Grundy has narrow, mostly entire leaves. Now known as Atherosperma moschatum subsp. integrifolium
. Leaves, twigs and flowers are fragrant, of a pleasant nutmeg scent.
Flowers form in winter, facing down to avoid rain and snow. White petalled, and yellow (and sometimes maroon) in the centre. The fruit capsules mature and open around January, releasing feathery wind blown seeds. Germination is unreliable. However, abundant new seedlings may unexpectedly form.
west of Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid north coast through Victoria and Tasmania. It is found in the gullies and creek beds of high altitude temperate rainforest, commonly associated with southern beeches of the genus Nothofagus
, and mountain quandong (Elaeocarpus holopetalus
).
The springy wood has been used for clothes pegs, and the scented bark made into a beverage. Requires moisture and shade for cultivation and hence not commonly seen cultivated.
It has been planted in the British Isles
as far north as Northern Ireland
and Scotland
.
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
native to the cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is common in the rainforests of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, but more scattered and rare in the higher altitudes of eastern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. The northernmost area is at Mount Grundy, west of Port Macquarie.
Taxonomy
The southern sassafras was first described by French naturalist Jacques LabillardièreJacques Labillardière
Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière was a French naturalist noted for his descriptions of the flora of Australia. Labillardière was a member of a voyage in search of the La Pérouse expedition...
in 1806, and is the only member of the genus Atherosperma. Its generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
ather "awn", and sperma "seed", from the hairs on the fruit, and the specific epithet moschatus is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective meaning "musk-scented", from the smell of the bark. It is a member of the small family Atherospermataceae
Atherospermataceae
The Atherospermataceae, commonly known as the southern sassafrases, are a family of broadleaf evergreen trees and shrubs. The family includes 14 species in seven genera. The atherosperms are native to the southern hemisphere, with two species native to southern Chile and 12 species native to...
along with several other Australian rainforest trees including yellow sassafras (Doryphora sassafras
Doryphora sassafras
Doryphora sassafras, commonly known as Sassafras, Yellow-, Canary- or Golden sassafras, or Golden Deal, is a species of evergreen tree of the family Atherospermataceae native to the subtropical and temperate rainforests of eastern New South Wales and Queensland, Australia...
).
Description
The Southern Sassafras is a small to medium sized tree, growing around 6 to 25 metres tall. However, in TasmaniaTasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
it can reach heights exceeding 40 metres and a width of a metre. It can be identified by the conical shape, the pale green leaves and fragrant scent.
The bark is grey to light brown, with numerous lenticels, raised bumps and ridges. The leaves are 3 to 10 cm long and 8 to 25 mm wide, margins are coarsely toothed, but the northern population in Monga National Park
Monga National Park
Monga National Park is located 230 km south west of Sydney, Australia. The closest town nearby is Braidwood.Monga features outstanding high altitude eucalyptus forest and cool temperate rainforest....
, the Blue Mountains, Barrington Tops and at Mount Grundy has narrow, mostly entire leaves. Now known as Atherosperma moschatum subsp. integrifolium
Atherosperma moschatum subsp. integrifolium
Atherosperma moschatum subsp. integrifolium is a small evergreen tree native to the temperate rainforests of central and northern New South Wales, Australia. In 2006 it was recognised as a separate sub-species by Richard Schodde...
. Leaves, twigs and flowers are fragrant, of a pleasant nutmeg scent.
Flowers form in winter, facing down to avoid rain and snow. White petalled, and yellow (and sometimes maroon) in the centre. The fruit capsules mature and open around January, releasing feathery wind blown seeds. Germination is unreliable. However, abundant new seedlings may unexpectedly form.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution is from the Tia RiverTia River
The Tia River is a river on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. The headwaters of the river rise in high country on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range about south west of Tia. It flows generally north east crossing the Oxley Highway before spilling over the Tia Falls...
west of Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid north coast through Victoria and Tasmania. It is found in the gullies and creek beds of high altitude temperate rainforest, commonly associated with southern beeches of the genus Nothofagus
Nothofagus
Nothofagus, also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 35 species of trees and shrubs native to the temperate oceanic to tropical Southern Hemisphere in southern South America and Australasia...
, and mountain quandong (Elaeocarpus holopetalus
Elaeocarpus holopetalus
Elaeocarpus holopetalus is a small rainforest tree of eastern Australia. It grows from near the Snowy River to Chaelundi National Park in northern New South Wales. It grows at high altitude in gullies....
).
Ecology
The smooth-barked Atherosperma moschatum does not shed its bark annually, and is a rich host of lichen species; a field study in Errinundra National Park found a total of 54 lichen species present, with 11 species found on trees of all sizes measured. The most common recorded was Pannaria microphyllizans. These pockets of rainforest are thought to be critical refuges for populations of lichen species among fire-prone eucalyptus woodland.Cultivation and uses
The timber is in demand for panelling, turnery, musical instruments and other specialty work, (carvings, dishes and boxes for tourists). The staining of the black heartwood is caused by fungus, and makes the timber markings particularly attractive.The springy wood has been used for clothes pegs, and the scented bark made into a beverage. Requires moisture and shade for cultivation and hence not commonly seen cultivated.
It has been planted in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
as far north as Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.