144 



Bulletin of the University of Texas 

 NYSSA (Granovius) L. 



Trees with alternate, mostly entire leaves which ar.3 con- 

 spicuous for their bright red autumnal coloration. Flowers 

 small greenish. Fruit a black drupe. 



Pistillate flowers and drupes in clusters 1. N. sylvatica. 



Pistillate flowers and drupes borne singly 2. N. aquatica. 



1. Nyssa Slyvatica Marshal. Sour Gum. A large forest 

 tree 80-100 high with spreading slender branches, greenish 



Fig. 47. Nyssa sylvatica. 



yellow twigs, and dark brown, deeply furrowed bark. Leaves 

 oval to obovate, rounded at the base, 5'-7' long, 2'-4' wide, 

 somewhat pointed at the apex, mostly entire margined, smooth 

 and lustrous above, paler and slightly hairy beneath. Flowers 

 dioecious, the staminate in dense clusters, the pistillate in 

 clusters of three. Fruit in clusters of three, dark blue, with 

 acrid bitter flesh. 



In moist places Maine to Ontario, Michigan, Florida, and 

 extending to the valley of the Brazos in Texas. The wood is 

 soft, weak, close grained, used for box boards. 



