The Gum Trees 



131 



NYSSA SYLVATICA, Marsh. BLACK GUM 



Common names: Black gum, sour gum, pepperidge, tupelo. 

 French name: Nyssa sylvestre. 



The Canadian range of the black gum is limited to the southwestern part of 

 Ontario, bordering on lakes Erie and St. Clair, where it is found growing in swamps 

 and along the edges of streams. 



It is a large tree, averaging 60 ft. in height. In the forest the trunk is sym- 

 metrical and clear for a considerable length. The crown on old trees is often flat- 

 topped and frequently stag-headed, i.e., dead at the top. In the open the branch- 

 ing is very irregular, the lower branches drooping more or less and the upper ones 

 growing out horizontally. 



The bark is dark grey tinged with red, rough, deeply grooved, and broken by 

 cross lines into many-sided plates. 



The twigs are slender, smooth, reddish-brown, numerous, and have a hori- 

 zontal, spreading habit of growth. The small branches are frequently covered 



.BLACK GUM 



/V. <3y/i^oA/co 



with many, short, spur-like growths which are roughened by broad, crescent-like 

 leaf-scars. 



The winter buds are about \i in. long, dark red, blunt-pointed, and usually 

 pointed well away from the twig. 



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