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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