White Sassafras

Description:

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 15–20[5][6][7] m tall, with a trunk up to 60 cm diameter, and a crown with many slender branches. The leaves are alternate, green to yellow-green, ovate or obovate, 10–16 cm long and 5–10 cm broad with a short, slender, slightly grooved petiole. They come in three different shapes, all of which can be on the same branch; three-lobed leaves, unlobed elliptical leaves, and two-lobed leaves; rarely, there can be more than three lobes. In fall, they turn to shades of yellow, tinged with red.

Habitat:

It prefers rich, well-drained sandy loam with a pH of 6–7, but will grow in any loose, moist soil. Temperate forests of eastern N. America.

Notes:

I spotted this while hiking in Fireman's Park on the edge of the city.