Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 8, 2026

Doryphora aromatica

Doryphora aromatica, commonly known as sassafras, northern sassafras, northern grey sassafras, net sassafras or grey sassafras, is a species of flowering plant in the Southern Sassafras Family Atherospermataceae and is endemic to north-east Queensland. It is a tree with elliptic or egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white flowers with 5 stamens and 6 to 8 carpels, and achenes splitting to release feather-like fruits.

Last revised
Jul 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
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Citations
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Wikipedia ↗
Doryphora aromatica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Atherospermataceae
Genus: Doryphora
Species:
D. aromatica
Binomial name
Doryphora aromatica
Synonyms2

Daphnandra aromatica F.M.Bailey

Doryphora aromatica, commonly known as sassafras, northern sassafras, northern grey sassafras, net sassafras or grey sassafras,3 is a species of flowering plant in the Southern Sassafras Family Atherospermataceae and is endemic to north-east Queensland. It is a tree with elliptic or egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white flowers with 5 stamens and 6 to 8 carpels, and achenes splitting to release feather-like fruits.

Description

Doryphora aromatica is a tree that typically grows to 12–40 m (39–131 ft) high. Its leaves are elliptic to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 50–135 mm (2.0–5.3 in) long and 20–43 mm (0.79–1.69 in) wide on a petiole 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long,3 and emit an aromatic odour when crushed.4 The edges of the leaves are sometimes shallowly toothed, and both surfaces have a prominent midvein. The flowers are white with 4 tepals 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) wide, the androecium with 3 whorls of 5 stamens and 6 to 11 staminodes, and there are 6 to 8 carpels. Flowering occurs from February to June and the achenes are 3.0–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) in diameter,3 and split to release fruit with feather-like hairs.4

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1886 by Frederick Manson Bailey who gave it the name Daphnandra aromatica in A Synopsis of the Queensland Flora from a specimen collected near the Johnstone River br Thomas Lane Bancroft.56 In 1958, Lindsay Stuart Smith transferred the species to Doryphora as D. aromatica.7

Distribution and habitat

Doryphora aromatica is widespread in north-east Queensland where it grows in rainforest along creeks and gullies.34

Ecology

The leaves of this species are food for the larval stages of Macleay's swallowtail (Graphium macleayanus) and blue triangle butterfly (Graphium sarpedon).4

References

References

  1. IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2021). "Doryphora aromatica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T192233434A192233436. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T192233434A192233436.en. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  2. "Doryphora aromatica". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  3. Foreman, Donald B.; Whiffin, Trevor J. "Doryphora aromatica". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  4. "Doryphora aromatica". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  5. "Daphnandra aromatica". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  6. Bailey, Frederick Manson (1886). "... Tribe ATHEROSPERMEǢ, DAPHNANDRA, Bent. D. aromatica (sp. nov.).". A synopsis of the Queensland flora, Supplement 1. Government Printer, Brisbane: James C. Beal. p. 46. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  7. "Doryphora aromatica". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
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