| Tasmania
has one species of Atherospermataceae - sassafras (Atherosperma
moschatum). It is native, and is one of the most
common temperate rainforest tree species in Tasmania. It
dominates temperate rainforest in parts of eastern Tasmania
and is subdominant to
Nothofagus cunninghamii in most of the remaining
lowland rainforest and mixed forest, except on very nutrient
poor sites.
It is a large tree, often with multiple trunks.
The leaves are distinctively aromatic with a pleasant
sassafras smell when crushed. The leaves are glossy green
on the upper surface and paler, dull green on the
underside. Leaves growing in the shade have several
pointed teeth on each edge, but leaves in the sun are
often toothless.
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University of Tasmania
