Black Gum Tree Leaf Identification
When combined with the several other tupelo species these trees have the distinction of being favorites with honey producers.
Black gum tree leaf identification. Black gum referring to the dark leaves. The nyssa genus is native to north america. The fall display includes foliage in shades of orange red purple and yellow. Still others call it beetlebung stinkwood wild peartree or pepperidge.
Nyssa is derived from the water nymph in greek mythology. Identification of eucalyptus species on australia s east coast. Makes a strong specimen tree. A tree of many monikers the black tupelo is also known in various areas as a gum tree sour gum bowl gum yellow gum or tupelo gum.
Alternate simple pinnately veined obovate in shape with an entire margin 3 to 5 inches long. Black tupelo or nyssa sylvatica is the most common true gum in north america and grows from canada to texas. Fruit is bluish black and is loved by many birds. Expand the menu to access our tree identification pages.
Virginia tech dendrology is the source for tree identification. Grows 30 50 high. Alternate simple pinnately veined oblong to obovate in shape with an entire margin 3 to 5 inches long occasionally shallow lobes or coarse teeth near tip. Eucalypts and species belonging to the closely related genus corymbia bloodwoods are listed for identification purposes on the web page below.
The species epithet sylvatica refers to its. The vast majority of different gum trees eucalyptus species including corymbia and blakella spp are endemic to australia. Originally from the united states the black gum tree s official genus name is nyssa sylvatica. The fruit and leaves of sweetgum look nothing like these true gums.
Nyssa sylvatica commonly known as tupelo black tupelo black gum or sour gum is a medium sized deciduous tree native to eastern north america from the coastal northeastern united states and southern ontario south to central florida and eastern texas as well as mexico. This species has two common names. The flowers of black gum are light green in color and form into pendulous clusters in the spring. The names used for this tree are black gum sourgum yellow gum black tupelo cotton gum tupelo gum pepperidge swamp tupelo swamp black gum sour gum or tupelo.
The following are some black gum or sour gum tree facts. Bark matures to medium gray and resembles alligator hide. While tupelo is derived from the creek indian name for the tree ito opilwa which means swamp tree. Nyssa sylvatica s genus name nyssa refers to a greek water nymph.
Another common tree that is called a gum is sweetgum and is actually an entirely different tree species classification called liquidambar.