1 16 



ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 51 



and wind, but in recent years it has shown considerable suscepti- 

 bility to Verticillium wilt. Most of the affected trees observed 

 have died. 



Tupelo 



Two species of tupelo, tupelo gum (Nyssa aquatica) and 

 tupelo (N. sylvatica) are native in Illinois. Tupelo, also called 

 sour gum and black gum, produces a long, narrow crown of nu- 

 merous slender, horizontal to somewhat drooping branches. It 

 reaches a height of 70-90 feet, with a branch spread of 30-50 

 feet. When growing in the open it frequently does not grow so 

 tall, and forms a round or cylindrical head (Fig. 104). It grows 

 as a native tree in the southern third of Illinois along streams 

 and in low, wet places. Colonies of tupelo occur in the sandy 

 areas of Kankakee and Cook counties. It is excellent for orna- 

 mental plantings, except in the extreme northern part of the 

 state where it may be damaged by winter injury. 



The thick, firm, shiny, smooth-margined, elliptic, alternate 

 leaves (Fig. 104 inset) are dark green above, gray and some- 

 what hairy beneath, and 2-5 inches long by 1-3 inches wide. 



Fig. 104.— Tupelo or 

 sour gum is conspicu- 

 ous in autumn because 

 of its brilliant red foli- 

 age. The leaves (inset) 

 are 2-.5 inches long. 



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