Sassafras albidum
Sassafras
The leaves of the Sassafras tree exhibit various shapes depending on the number of lobes or projections they have. Those with two lobes are often compared to mittens. Regardless of the shape, Sassafras leaves turn a variety of beautiful and brilliant colors in the fall ranging from yellow to purple to red. In the springtime, Sassafras flowers emerge as little sunbursts of yellow. The roots and bark of this tree are a traditional ingredient in root beer and the dried leaves can be ground to make filé powder, a thickening agent used in Southern gumbos. This medium-sized tree is not often found on the Mountain Top but has been spotted in nearby Platte Clove where it grows as an understory tree. We suspect it is slowly moving its way up the mountain.