Lauraceae, the Laurel Family

Trees or shrubs, with aromatic taste or odor, and alternate simple leaves; flowers small, imperfect, the anthers opening by lids.

1a. Freely branched shrub; leaves obovate-oblong, entire (flowers yellow, in early spring, before the leaves)	Spice Bush, Benzoin aestivale.
1b. Tree or tall shrub; some or all of the leaves 2-3-lobed (flowers greenish-yellow, appearing with the leaves)	Sassafras, Sassafras variifolium.