Atherosperma moschatum

Atherosperma moschatum is a shrub to conical tree that typically grows to a height of 2 to 30 metres (7 to 100 feet). Its young branchlets, flowers and the lower surface of the leaves are usually densely hairy. Its leaves are nutmeg-scented when crushed, lance-shaped, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, or elliptic, {{cvt|30–95|mm}} long and {{cvt|8–23|mm|sigfig=1}} wide on a petiole {{cvt|2–6|mm|sigfig=1}} long. The upper surface of the leaves is glossy green and the edges are sometimes irregularly toothed.{{cite web |last1=Foreman |first1=Donald B. |last2=Whiffin |first2=Trevor J. |title=Atherosperma moschatum |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Atherosperma%20moschatum |publisher=Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=18 May 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Harden |first1=Gwen J. |title=Atherosperma moschatum |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Atherosperma~moschatum |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney |access-date=18 May 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Messina |first1=Andre |last2=Stajsic |first2=Val |title=Atherosperma moschatum subsp. moschatum |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/f5699d45-50f6-4d32-8196-f0bbc3021160 |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=18 May 2024}}

The flowers are pleasantly perfumed with cream-coloured to white tepals, {{cvt|6–10|mm|sigfig=1}} long and often streaked with purple. The receptacle is {{cvt|10–12|mm|sigfig=1}} long and densely hairy. Flowering occurs from July to October, and the fruit is a densely hairy achene {{cvt|10–20|mm|sigfig=1}} long.

Atherosperma moschatum was first formally described in 1806 by French naturalist Jacques Labillardière in his Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.{{cite web|title=Atherosperma moschatum|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/instance/apni/541385|publisher=APNI|accessdate=18 May 2024}}{{cite book |last1=Labillardière |first1=Jacques |title=Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen |date=1806 |location=Paris |pages=74–75 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/127076#page/74/mode/1up |access-date=18 May 2024}}

The generic name (Atherosperma) is derived from the Ancient Greek ather meaning "awn", and sperma meaning "seed", referring to the hairs on the fruit. The specific epithet moschatum 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).

.{{cite book|last=Floyd|first=Alex G.|title=Rainforest Trees of Mainland Southeastern Australia|publisher=Terania Rainforest Publishing|location=Lismore, NSW|year=2009|page=83|isbn=978-0-9589436-7-3}} Its closest relative is the monotypic genus Nemuaron, endemic to New Caledonia.Renner, S. S., D. B. Foreman, and D. Murray. (2000) Timing Transantarctic Disjunction in the Atherospermataceae (Laurales): Evidence from Coding and Non Coding Chloroplast Sequences. Systematic Biology 49: 579–91.

In 1855, Edmond Tulasne described Atherosperma integrifolium in the Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris from an unpublished description by Allan Cunningham.{{cite web|title=Atherosperma integrifolium|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/instance/apni/610401|publisher=APNI|accessdate=18 May 2024}}{{cite journal |last1=Tulasne |first1=Edmond |title=Monographia Monimiacearum primum tentata. |journal=Archives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle |date=1855 |volume=8 |pages=421–422 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25103922#page/429/mode/1up |access-date=18 May 2024}} In 2007, Richard Schodde reduced this species to a subspecies of Atherosperma moschatum in the Flora of Australia, and its name, and that of the autonym are accepted by the Australian Plant Census and Plants of the World Online:

• Atherosperma moschatum Labill. subsp. moschatum (the autonym){{cite web |title=Atherosperma moschatum subsp. moschatum |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/140613 |publisher=Australian Plant Census |access-date=18 May 2024}} is a small to medium-sized tree that typically grows to a height of {{cvt|4–30|m}} and has lance-shaped leaves, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, or sometimes elliptic, the edges usually toothed.{{cite web |last1=Foreman |first1=Donald B. |last2=Whiffin |first2=Trevor J. |title=Atherosperma moschatum subsp. moschatum |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Atherosperma%20moschatum%20subsp.%20moschatum |publisher=Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=18 May 2024}}{{cite web |title=Atherosperma moschatum subsp. moschatum |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77083068-1 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=22 September 2024}}
• Atherosperma moschatum subsp. integrifolium (A.Cunn. ex Tul.) Schodde{{cite web |title=Atherosperma moschatum subsp. integrifolium |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/202466 |publisher=Australian Plant Census |access-date=18 May 2024}} is a slender shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of {{cvt|2–10|m}} and has mostly lance-shaped leaves with entire margins, sometimes toothed in juveniles.{{cite web |last1=Foreman |first1=Donald B. |last2=Whiffin |first2=Trevor J. |title=Atherosperma moschatum subsp. integrifolium |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Atherosperma%20moschatum%20subsp.%20integrifolium |publisher=Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=Atherosperma moschatum subsp. integrifolium'' |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77083068-1 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=22 September 2024}}

Black sassafras grows along streams in deep gullies at higher altitudes and occurs at Barrington Tops, in the upper Blue Mountains and Tia Gorge in New South Wales,{{cite book |last1=Fairley |first1=Alan |last2=Moore |first2=Philip |title=Native Plants of the Sydney District - An Identification Guide |date=1989 |publisher=Kangaroo Press |location=Kenthurst |page=53}} in cool-temperate rainforest in eastern Victoria and eastern Tasmania. It often grows with Nothofagus cunninghamii and Elaeocarpus holopetalus. Subspecies integrifolium is restricted to cool-temperate rainforest in the Barrington Tops and Blue Mountains.

The smooth-barked A. 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 commonly recorded was Pannaria microphyllizans. These pockets of rainforest are thought to be critical refuges for populations of lichen species among fire-prone eucalyptus woodland.{{cite journal|author1=Morley, Sharon E. |author2=Gibson, Maria |title=Successional changes in epiphytic rainforest lichens: implications for the management of rainforest communities|journal=The Lichenologist|volume=42|issue=3|pages=311–21 |year=2010|

doi=10.1017/S0024282909990570|hdl=10536/DRO/DU:30035374 |url=http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30035374/gibson-successionalchanges-2010.pdf|hdl-access=free}}

It requires moisture and shade for cultivation, hence is not commonly seen cultivated.{{cite book | last1=Elliot | first1=Rodger W. | last2=Jones | first2=David L. | last3=Blake | first3=Trevor |title=Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Vol. 2|year=1985 |publisher=Lothian Press |location=Port Melbourne |isbn=0-85091-143-5|page=253}}

It has been planted in the British Isles{{cite web|url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSWebsite/files/10/10cddac3-b5d4-4d44-9b58-cc8bd9634b56.pdf |title=Half-hardy trees in Britain and Ireland |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |accessdate=2009-11-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117153040/http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSWebsite/files/10/10cddac3-b5d4-4d44-9b58-cc8bd9634b56.pdf |archivedate=2010-01-17 }}[broken link] as far north as Northern Ireland{{cite web|url=http://www.habitas.org.uk/gardenflora/atherosperma.htm|title=Atherosperma moschatum |publisher=The Garden Flora of Northern Ireland|accessdate=2009-11-04}} and Scotland.{{cite web|url=http://www.dendroimage.de/2201.htm|title=Atherosperma moschatum in Scotland|publisher=Dendrological Plant Image Gallery|accessdate=2009-11-04}}

The leaves have a distinct scent and may be chewed to release a flavour and tingling sensation. However, the safety of the plants' consumption is not known and it may be poisonous.{{Cite web |title=Atherosperma moschatum Black Sassafras PFAF Plant Database |url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Atherosperma+moschatum |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=pfaf.org}}{{Cite web |title=HabitatPlants |url=https://www.habitatplants.com.au/hpwp/wp-content/uploads/plants-for-bees.pdf}}

• Sassafras, Tasmania, a small town in North West Tasmania named after the local growth of southern sassafras.

{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q14831655|from2=Q4813572|from3=Q21382805}}

Category:Atherospermataceae

Category:Laurales of Australia

Category:Trees of Australia

Category:Flora of Victoria (state)

Category:Flora of New South Wales

Category:Taxa named by Jacques Labillardière

Category:Plants described in 1806

Category:Monotypic angiosperm genera