ABSTRACT
Sassafras is a genus of three species, one endemic to eastern North America, and two in China and Taiwan (Mabberley 1997, Peng 2000). Sassafras was discovered by the Spanish in Florida in 1528, although the OED (1971) gives no source for that information. Core (1967) was in error when he wrote that the tree was “discovered in 1602 by Bartholomew Gosnold.” At least Monardes in 1569 (Frampton [1577] 1925), Harriot (1590), and Gerarde ([1597] 1975) preceded that 1602 date.
