Nyssa L. (Nyssaceae)

A genus of about eight to ten species of trees and shrubs; e. North America, e. Asia, se. Asia, and Central America.

Three species occur in North Carolina; all are considered native to the state.

1. Leaf blades often with a few irregular teeth typically located near the widest part of the blade, blades to 30 cm long and 15 cm wide, at least the larger on a tree normally > 8 cm wide, petioles of mature leaves 3-6 cm long...N. aquatica (Water tupelo)

Bark of Nyssa aquatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Bark of Nyssa aquatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Bark of Nyssa aquatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Twigs of Nyssa aquatica (coming soon)

Leaves of Nyssa aquatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Leaves of Nyssa aquatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Nyssa aquatica (coming soon)

Drupes of Nyssa aquatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Drupes of Nyssa aquatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Drupes of Nyssa aquatica (Copyright W. Cook)

N.C. distribution of Nyssa aquatica

U.S. distribution of Nyssa aquatica

Nyssa aquatica (Water tupelo)
(Common; river swamps, where inundated for substantial periods of time; CP; Fl: Apr-May, Fr: Sep-Oct)

1. Leaf blades generally entire, rarely with a few irregular teeth, these typically located toward the leaf apex, blades to 18 cm long and 10 cm wide, the largest leaves on a tree rarely > 7 cm wide, petioles of mature leaves 0.5-2.0 (-2.5 cm) long...2.

2. Pistillate flowers and fruits (1-) 2 (-3) per peduncle; leaves with thick texture, rather stiff, typically widest beyond the middle, the apex typically obtuse, the margins entire (rarely with a few teeth on vigorous sprouts); trunk swollen or buttressed at base; bark of large trees rough, a vertical ridge-furrow pattern most prominent; [trees of swamps with periodic or seasonal flooding; mostly on the Coastal Plain]...N. biflora (Swamp tupelo)

Bark of Nyssa biflora (Copyright W. Cook)

Twigs of Nyssa biflora (coming soon)

Leaves of Nyssa biflora (Copyright W. Cook)

Leaves of Nyssa biflora (Copyright W. Cook)

Leaves of Nyssa biflora (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Nyssa biflora (Copyright W. Cook)

Fruit of Nyssa biflora (Copyright W. Cook)

Drupes of Nyssa biflora (Copyright W. Cook)

Drupes of Nyssa biflora (Copyright W. Cook)

N.C. distribution of Nyssa biflora

U.S. distribution of Nyssa biflora

Nyssa biflora (Swamp tupelo)
(Common; blackwater river swamps, depressions in pinelands, pocosins, either where inundated for substantial periods of time or in more-or-less permanently saturated organic peaty soils; Pd, CP; Fl: Apr-Jun, Fr: Aug-Oct)

2. Pistillate flowers and fruits (2-) 3-5 (-8) per peduncle; leaves with thin texture, pliable, typically widest near the middle, the apex typically acuminate, the margins often with a few irregular teeth near the apex (though sometimes an entire tree with no toothed leaves); trunk not swollen or buttressed at base (even when growing in moist or wet habitats); bark of large trees rough, divided by deep vertical and horizontal furrows into a pattern of squarish checks; [trees of dry to mesic upland forests, less commonly in bottomlands or other wetlands, where flooding occurs at most occasionally and is of short duration]...N. sylvatica (Sour gum, Black gum)

Bark of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Bark of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Twigs of Nyssa sylvatica (coming soon)

Leaves of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Leaves of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Leaves of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Leaves of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Drupes of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Drupes of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

Drupes of Nyssa sylvatica (Copyright W. Cook)

N.C. distribution of Nyssa sylvatica

U.S. distribution of Nyssa sylvatica

Nyssa sylvatica (Sour gum, Black gum)
(Common; dry or mesic upland forests, less commonly in bottomlands, pine savannas, or upland depressions, where occasionally inundated briefly; Mt, Pd, CP; Fl: Apr-Jun, Fr: Aug-Oct)