CORNACEAE 

 Black Gum. Pepperidge 



Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. [Nyssa multiflora Wang.] 



HABIT. A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk 

 diameter of 1-2 feet, forming a rounded to cylindrical crown of 

 slender, spreading, pendulous branches and a stiff, flat spray. 



LEAVES. Alternate, simple, 2-5 inches long, one-half as 

 broad ; oblong-obovate to oval ; entire, or sometimes wavy- 

 margined; thick and firm; very lustrous and dark green above, 

 pale and often hairy beneath, turning bright scarlet, on the upper 

 surface only, in autumn; petioles short. 



FLOWERS. May-June, with the leaves; polygamo-dioe- 

 cious; greenish; borne on slender, downy peduncles; the stam- 

 inate slender-pedicelled, in many-flowered heads ; the pistillate 

 sessile, in several-flowered clusters ; calyx cup-shaped, 5-toothed ; 

 petals 5; stamens 5-10; stigma stout, terete, recurved. 



FRUIT. October ; fleshy drupes, ovoid, blue-black, about 

 *A inch long, sour, in clusters of 1-3. 



WINTER-BUDS.^-^ inch long, ovoid, obtuse, dark red. 



BARK. Twigs greenish or light brown, smooth or often 

 downy, becoming smooth, dark red-brown ; thick, red-brown on 

 old trunks, deeply furrowed. 



WOOD. Heavy, soft, strong, very tough, difficult to split, 

 not durable in contact with the soil, pale yellow, with thick, whit- 

 ish sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Frequent in the southern half of the 

 Lower Peninsula. Has been reported as far north as Manistee. 



HABITAT. Prefers the borders of swamps and low, wet 

 lands. Rarely flourishes in exposed situations. 



NOTES. Of great ornamental value. Not easily trans- 

 planted. Pith of twigs with thin, transverse partitions. 

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