180 



WOOD AND FOREST. 



62 



SOUR GUM. TUPELO. 



Tupelo, the Indian name. 



PEPPERIDGE. BLACK GUM. 



Nyssa sylvatica Marshal. 



Nyssa, from Nysa, the realm of moist vegetation and the home of 

 Dio-nysus (Bacchus) (the tree grows in low wet lands) ; sylvatica, refers 

 to its habit of forest growth. 



\ 



Habitat. 



Leaf. 



Habitat: (See map); 

 best in Southern Appala- 

 chian mountains. 



Characteristics of the 

 Tree : Height, 40'-50', 

 even 100'; diameter, 1"- 

 6", even 5' variable in 

 form; bark, brown, deeply 

 fissured and scaly; leaves, 

 in sprays, short, petioled, 

 brilliant scarlet in au- 

 tumn; fruit, bluish black, 

 sour, fleshy drupe. 



Appearance of Wood: 



Color, pale yellow, sap- 

 wood, white, hardly dis- 

 tinguishable ; diffuse-por- 

 ous; rings, not plain; 

 grain fine, twisted and in- 

 terwoven ; rays, numer- 

 ous, thin. 



Physical Qualities : 

 Medium heavy (25th in 

 this list), 39 Ibs. per cu. 

 ft; sp. . gr., 0.6356; 



