A Tree Known For Its Twisted Trunk

February 3, 2026

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). A tree I often see up here and usually recognize right away, even in winter. Easy to spot because of the contorted or twisted nature of its trunk. Another simple clue for identification is the bark.

If only figuring out the identity of all trees were this dependable.

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Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.