MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



BLACK GUM OR TUPELO (Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.) 



THE Black Gum occurs rather commonly throughout 

 Massachusetts, where it inhabits the borders of 

 swamps and streams. 



Here it is a small or medium-sized tree, of slow growth 

 and of very variable habit. Its height development 

 ranges from twenty-five to fifty feet and its diam- 

 eter from one to two feet. The branches are slender 

 and angular, the lower ones horizontal or 

 slightly drooping and the upper horizontal 

 or slightly rising. The head is of vary- 

 ing form, 

 cylindrical, 

 conical, 

 pyramidal, 

 often flat- 

 topped and 

 usually 

 p i c t u r - 

 esque. 

 The bark 



n t h e 

 trunk is 

 dark gray. 

 On the old 

 trunk it is 

 divided 



into many small scales. The leaves are 



simple, alternate, entire and from two to 



five inches long. In summer the leaves are 



dark green and lustrous on the upper sur- winter twig 



face. In the autumn the foliage takes on and buds. One- 



1 -iv j_ i /> i i half natural size. 



brilliant hues of scarlet and crimson. 



The fruit, which ripens in October, is about one- 

 half inch long, blue-black and sour. 



Its wood is heavy, soft, strong and not very durable. 

 It is used for the hubs of wheels, for rollers and piles. 

 It is difficult to split; hence, when it is made to serve 

 for fuel, the logs are usually employed. 



BLACK GUM 



Leaves and staminate flower clusters. 

 One-half natural size. 



BLACK GUM 



61 



