1. Leaves usually less than 1 dm. long, not mucronate; staminate flowers pedicel- 



late in an umbel or congested raceme; pistillate flowers 2 or more 

 on a peduncle; fruits less than 15 mm. long; endocarp smooth or 

 obtusely ridged (2) 



2(1). Leaves obovate to broadly elliptic, typically about 2 times as long as broad, 

 usually thin-textured, when young with a densely long-pilose petiole 

 2. N. sylvatica var. sylvatica. 



2. Leaves mostly linear to oblanceolate, typical 3 times as long as broad, usually 



leathery, the petiole subglabrous or only sparsely short-pilose 



2. N. sylvatica var. biflora. 



1. Nyssa aquatica L. Tupelo, cotton-gum. Fig. 601. 



Large tree to 30 m. or more tall, with the trunk somewhat swollen at base; 

 leaves with petioles to 6 cm. long, ovate to broadly oblong-elliptic, cuneate or 

 sometimes slightly cordate at base, rather abruptly acute to acuminate and mucro- 

 nate at apex, to 3 dm. long and 1 dm. broad, pale and usually downy-pubescent on 

 lower surface; fruit ellipsoid, bluish. N. iiniflora Wang. 



In inundated swamps and along sluggish streams in e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; from 

 Va., s. Ind., s. 111. and Mo., s. to Fla. and Tex. 



The source of an excellent honey. 



2. Nyssa sylvatica Marsh, var. sylvatica. Black-gum, sour-gum, pepperidge. 



Vig. 602. 



Rather large trees to 30 m. tall, with horizontally spreading branches; leaves 

 with petioles to 2 cm. long, broadly rounded to abruptly acuminate at apex, lus- 

 trous on upper surface, smooth and glabrate or eventually glabrous on lower surface, 

 to 14 cm. long and 7 cm. broad; fruiting peduncle usually more than 3 cm. long; 

 fruits somewhat acid. Incl. var. dilatata Fern, and var. caroliniana (Poir.) Fern. 



In swamps, low woods and sandy open woodlands in e. Tex. and e. Okla. 

 {Waterfall), Apr .-May; from Me., s. to Okla., Mo., Fla. and Tex.; also Mex. 



Var. biflora (Walt.) Sarg. Black-gum. 



Large trees to 35 m. tall, with the base of the trunk swollen when submersed; 

 leaves rounded to acute at apex, glabrous or nearly so, to 12 cm. long or more and 

 rarely to 4 cm. broad; fruiting peduncle usually less than 3 cm. long; fruits bitterish. 

 N. biflora Walt. 



In periodically inundated swamps, low wet woods and along streams in e. Tex., 

 Mar.-Apr.; from Del. and Md., s. to Fla. and Tex. 



The fruits are eaten by many different songbirds, ducks and game birds as well 

 as by most mammals, and deer and beaver eat the vegetative parts. 



2. Comus L. Dogwood. Cornel 



Shrubs or small trees with opposite (in ours) deciduous leaves and small flowers 

 in open cymes or close heads; flowers perfect; calyx minutely 4-toothed; petals 4, 

 oblong-elliptic, obtuse, spreading; stamens 4, the filaments slender; style slender; 

 stigma flat or capitate; fruit a small drupe, with a 2-celled and usually 2-seeded 

 stone. 



About 40 species in the North Temperate Zone. 



The fruits of these species are eaten by various birdlife, wildfowl and game birds 

 as well as by small mammals, while the vegetative parts are eaten by deer, beaver 

 and various other small mammals. 



1. Distribution in New Mexico and Arizona 1. C. stolonifera. 



1. Distribution in Oklahoma and Texas eastward (2) 



2(1). Cymes elongate, laxly paniculate; pedicels usually bright-red; branches gray- 

 ish; fruit white or creamy-white at maturity 2. C. racemosa. 



2. Cymes broad, compact, flat or only slightly rounded across the top (3) 



1265 



