144 Bulletin of the University of Texas 
NYSSA (Granovius) L. 
Trees with alternate, mostly entire leaves which ar} con- 
spicuous for their bright red autumnal coloration. Flowers 
small greenish. Fruit a black drupe. 
Pistillate flowers and drupes in clusters........... t..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. 
