T r e e s  o f  N o r t h  C a r o l i n a

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.

Key to Nyssa in North Carolina

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)

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)

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)