Vol.. II.] 



DOGWOOD FAMILY. 



547 



i. Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. Pepperidge. Sour Gum. Tupelo. (Fig. 2721.) 



Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. Arb. Am. 97. 1785. 

 Nyssa multiflora Wang. Holz. 46. pi. 16. 1787. 



A large tree, with rough bark, reaching a 

 maximum height of 110 and trunk diameter 

 of 5; branches horizontal, especially when 

 the tree is young. Leaves obovate or oval, 

 acute, acuminate, or obtuse at the apex, 

 usually narrowed at the base, entire, glabrous 

 and shining above, more or less pubescent 

 beneath, 2'-4' long; petioles 4 // -7 // long; 

 staminate flowers in compound capitate clus- 

 ters; pistillate flowers larger, 2-14 together; 

 fruit ovoid, nearly black, 4 / '-7 // long, acid; 

 stone ovoid, more or less flattened and ridged. 



In rich soil, most abundant in swamps, Maine 

 and Ontario to Florida, Michigan and Texas. 

 Leaves crimson in autumn, rarely angulate- 

 tpothed on young trees. Wood soft, tough, 

 light yellow; weight per cubic foot 40 ibs. 

 Called also Black Gum. April-June. 



2. Nyssa bifldra Walt. Southern Tupelo. Water Tupelo. (Fig. 2722.) 



Nyssa biflora Walt. Fl. Car. 253. 1788. 



Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora Sargent, Sylva, 5: 76. 



pi. 218. 1893. 



Similar to the preceding species, the base 

 swollen. Leaves mostly smaller and narrower, 

 oval, oblong or obovate, entire, obtuse, or some- 

 times acute at the apex, narrowed or rounded 

 at the base, i'-5' long, rarely more than i^' 

 wide, glabrous when mature, sometimes loosely 

 pubescent when young; staminate flowers in 

 compound or simple cymes; pistillate flowers 

 only 1-3 together; fruit oval, or subglobose, 

 3 // -6 // long, acid; stone oval or oblong, dis- 

 tinctly flattened and furrowed. 



In swamps and along ponds, New Jersey (ac- 

 cording to Coulter and Evans) ; Virginia to Florida 

 and Alabama. April-May. Perhaps intergrades 

 with the preceding species. Opinions differ as to 

 whether the name aquatica belongs more properly 

 to this species or the following, both having been 

 included in one species by Linnaeus. 



3. Nyssa aquatica L,. Large Tupelo. 

 Cotton or Tupelo Gum. (Fig. 2723.) 



Nyssa aquatica L. Sp. PI. 1058. 1753. 

 Nyssa uniflora Wang. Am. 83. pi. 27. f. 57. 



1787. 



A large tree, reaching a maximum height of 

 about 100 and trunk diameter of 4. Leaves slen- 

 der-petioled, ovate or oval, angular-dentate, or en- 

 tire, acute, or acuminate at the apex, rounded, 

 often cordate, sometimes narrowed at the base, 

 downy-pubescent beneath, especially when young, 

 becoming glabrate on both sides, s'-io' long; stam- 

 inate flowers in compound capitate clusters; pis- 

 tillate flower larger, solitary ; fruit oval, dark blue 

 when ripe, 8 // -is // long; stone narrowly obovate, 

 flattened, spongy, with several sharp longitudinal 

 ridges. 



In swamps, southern Virginia to Florida, west to Illi- 

 nois, Missouri and Texas. Wood soft, tough, light brown, 

 or nearly white; weight per cubic foot 29 Ibs. April. 



