DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 217 



a tree of greater dimensions, and larger, more elongated 

 leaves, whose northern boundary is the neighborhood of 

 Philadelphia; the Large Tupelo (N. grandidentata), a 

 tree of the largest size, with large, coarsely toothed 

 foliage, and a large blue fruit, three-fourths of an inch 

 long, which is sometimes called the wild olive; and the 

 sour Tupelo (N. capitata), with long, smooth, laurel-like 

 leaves, and light red, oval fruit, called the Wild Lime, 

 from its abounding in a strong acid, resembling that of 

 the latter fruit. Both the latter trees are natives of the 

 southern states, and are little known north of Philadelphia. 



The wood of all the foregoing trees is remarkable for 

 the peculiar arrangement of its fibres ; which, instead of 

 running directly through the stem in parallel lines, are 

 curiously twisted and interwoven together. Owing to 

 this circumstance it is extremely difficult to split, and is 

 therefore often used in the manufacture of wooden bowls, 

 trays, etc. That of the Peperidge is also preferred for 

 the same reason, and for its toughness, by the wheel- 

 wrights, in the construction of the naves of wheels, and 

 for other similar purposes. 



Michaux remarks that he is unable to give any reason 

 why the names of Sour gum, Black gum, etc., have been 

 bestowed upon these trees, as they spontaneously exude no 

 sap or fluid which could give rise to such an appellation. 

 We suspect that the term has arisen from a comparison 

 of the autumnal tints of these trees belonging to the genus 

 Nyssa, with those of the Sweet gum or Liquidambar, 

 which, at a sliort distance, they so much resemble in the 

 early autumn, 



