Sassafras

[Randy]

Question-----Around my farm in places, edge of field/edge of woods is ALOT(100's) of small sassafras tree's/bushes started growing this year maybe last, none over waist high, but I can't find a "Mother Tree" no where. My g-friend also has them at her wood edge with no sign of a mother tree-----she lives 30 air miles away. Am I missing something here? What You Pro's Think?? Thanks Randy

[Ianab]

I dont know about sassafras specifically, but the seed appear to be small fruit (drupes) that birds would eat. The seeds then get dumped as the bird goes about it's business. Could be a mile from where it ate them. Trees like oak and walnut with much heavier seeds dont get spread very far, so you will see a 'mother tree' nearby.

Cheers

Ian

[beenthere]

Yep, and I don't wanna see the bird that could pass one of them black walnuts. 
Noo siiir reee!!!!

[populus]

Pretty good, Ian, for a guy who lives 5000 miles away from the nearest sassafras! 

Ian't right. Sassafras seeds are easily spread by birds. Once a single plant is established, root sprouts can quickly mulitply the number of stems. The parent tree could be miles away.  Bluejays have been known to transport acorns 200 miles!

[SwampDonkey]

But, I will say that oak can be carried a long way by moose, because my woodlot is 2 miles as the crow flies from the nearest stand of wild red oak and there were never any red oak on my woodlot before it was harvested 10 years ago. Now I have quite a number of red oak saplings that I try to keep track of by GPS.

Red oak and the elusive Moose