

222 



SYLVA AMERICANA, 



PLATE LIX. 

 Fig. 1. A leaf. Fig. 2. The fruit. 



Large Tupelo. JYyssa grandidentata. 



This tree is the most 

 remarkable of its genus for 

 height and diameter. It is 

 a stranger to the Northern 

 and Middle States, and is 

 found only in the lower 

 part of the Carolinas, of 

 Georgia and of East Florida, 

 where it is designated by 

 the name of Large Tupelo. 

 It is said to abound also in 

 Lower Louisiana on the 

 banks of the Mississippi, 

 where it is called Wild Olive. 

 In fine, it exists in all parts 

 of the United States which 

 produce the long-leaved pine. 

 It grows most luxuriantly on the banks of rivers that are frequently 

 inundated, and in swamps where the soil is deep and fertile. 



The large tupelo, in favorable situations attains the elevation 

 of 70 or SO feet, with a diameter of 15 or 20 inches immediately 

 above its conical base and six or seven feet from the ground. 

 This size continues uniform to the height of 25 or 30 feet : at 

 the surface the trunk is eight or nine feet thick, which is a greater 

 disproportion than is. observed in the other species. The leaves 

 are commonly five or six inches long and two or three inches 

 broad : on young and thriving stocks they are of twice these 

 dimensions. They are of an oval shape, and are garnished with 

 two or three large teeth irregularly placed, and not opposite, 

 like those of other leaves. At their unfolding in the spring they 

 are downy, but they become smooth on both sides as they 

 expand. The flowers are disposed in bunches, are of a greenish 

 color and open in April or May. They are succeeded by a fruit 

 of considerable size and of a deep blue complexion, of which the 

 stone is depressed and very distinctly striated. 



