This is the tree we are looking for now on the hunt for Morels.  One reason is because it is a primary host for Morels (with particularly good fruiting under recently dead trees), and additionally because it indicates the appropriate habitat.  Here it is seen by the river, which is typical habitat and a great place to find Morels.  This is a great tree, though another example of man-made tragedy as the introduced Dutch Elm Disease has taken down a number of specimens and generally prevents these Elms from reaching their full age potential.  

Sassafras has been popping the last week.  I already posted on it earlier, as we were gathering it for the apprenticeship class- earlier pictures are of the bark and twigs.
According to Moerman, Sassafras was used for worms, diarrhea, rheumatism, blood toxicity, colds, skin diseases, wounds, sores, "overfatness", sore eyes, ague, and venereal disease by the Cherokee, and to remove odor from eating ramps; by the Chippewa to thin the blood; to thin the blood and for measles by the Choctaw; as a blood purifier and tonic by the Lenape; by the Houma for measles and scarlet fever; by the Iroquois for tapeworm, rheumatism, blood, colds, wounds, cuts, bruises, sore eyes, fevers after childbirth, nosebleed, high blood pressure, swellings on the shins and calves, and as a tonic; for stings and heart trouble by the Koasati; for sore eyes and as spring tonic by the Mohegan; for fever and ague by the Nanticoke; for burns, measles, sore eyes, and for the nerves by the Rappahannock;  by the Seminole for cow sickness (lower chest pain, digestive disturbances, and diarrhea), wolf sickness (vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and frequent urination), raccoon sickness (diarrhea), otter sickness (diarrhea and vomiting), horse sickness (nausea, constipation, and blocked urination), wolf ghost sickness (diarrhea and painful defecation), mythical wolf sickness, monkey sickness (fever, itch, and enlarged eyes), continuous vomiting, colds, cough, gallstones, bladder pain... and if that didn't work it was used after death of a patient and after funerals.