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Publication #HS663

Sarsaparilla — Smilax spp. and Sassafras — Sassafras spp.1

James M. Stephens2

While they are not considered vegetables according to the usual classification, sarsaparilla and sassafras are mentioned here because of their minor importance as aromatic herbs.

SARSAPARILLA

Sarsaparilla, the "good guy" drink of the early American western movies, is made from the dried roots of several various species of Smilax. Three of these are S. officinalis, S. papyracea, and S. medica. It does not come from the sassafras tree as some have been led to believe. Smilax plants, which are woody, thorny vines arising from swollen underground tubers, are abundant in Florida woodlands.

SASSAFRAS

Sassafras is a tree of the laurel family, Sassafras variifolium and S. albidum. The leaves, stem bark, and root bark contain volatile oils and odors. In Florida, sassafras spreads rapidly over abandoned fields by means of suckers from the roots. The bark is sometimes used in water as a tea. Also, the oil is sometimes distilled from the roots.

In recent times, considerable health concerns have been raised for the consumption of sassafras tea.

Footnotes

1.

This document is HS663, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 1994. Revised September 2008. Reviewed May 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

James M. Stephens, Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.