Swamp Sassafras

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Synonyms

Magnolia glauca 1.

The Rappahannock Indians snuffed the leaves and bark of this North American tree as a mild inebriant

(cf. snuff). Chemical studies and additional

ethnographic data are lacking (Ott 1993, 412*).

Virginia magnolia, which has a safrole scent, is also

known in the United States as swamp sassafras

(Grieve 1982, 716*). It contains an essential oil

that clearly includes a high quantity of safrole (cf.

Sassafras albidum).

Another magnolia species has been associated

with the Aztec inebriant poyomatli. Magnolias

have been shown to contain alkaloids, e.g., magnoflorine

(Roth et al. 1994,479*).