Sassafras?

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neefman East Bridgewater, MA Jul 14, 2015

Is this a large Sassafras tree? The leaves had the mitteny look but I've never seen this species this large. There were a whole bunch of them on a farmland edge in Sharon, MA.

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Weerobin Saint Louis, MO(Zone 6a) Jul 14, 2015

Looks like sassafras to me. When you find a happy sassafras, you often will find a whole grove of them. One of my favorite fall displays.

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jul 14, 2015

Yes, absolutely - Sassafras albidum - always note that it is separated from so many other species by its sympodial branching habit.

OK, OK, stop slapping your forehead.

Sassafras will form a grove most often when it has had root disturbance. It is a suckering fiend, much like Sumac species.

Otherwise, Sassafras can form very tall trees with no trouble whatsoever, and on a quite wide variety of soils. Some of the best stands in Louisville/Jefferson County (KY) are on xeric sandstone ridges in Jefferson Memorial Forest. The national champion is located in Owensboro, KY, and has an interesting story all its own...

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neefman East Bridgewater, MA Jul 15, 2015

I always see sassafras as an undergrowth species around here, until now. :)

I looked up sympodial branching and I did slap my head...

Thanks both of you!

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