Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a fairly common tree that grows from east Texas to southern Maine. It is easily identified by the three distinct shapes of the leaves. The leaves will either be in the shape of an oval, mitten, or 3-lobed. The unmistakable “spicy” or “root beer” smell of a freshly broken branch is another unmistakable characteristic. It’s often enjoyable to snap off a sprig of Sassafras and chew it while trekking through the green canopy of the eastern U.S.