Nyssaceae > Nyssa (tupelo, gum tree) |
 |
Swamp Tupelo, Water Gum, Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora)
Washington Co., NC
21 June 2006Common in the NC coastal plain (rare in piedmont), Swamp Tupelo grows in water-saturated soils along blackwater rivers, swamps, etc. |
 |
Swamp Tupelo, Water Gum, Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora)
Washington Co., NC
21 June 2006Fruits are drupes and ripen in the fall to a deep blue color. |
 |
Swamp Tupelo, Water Gum, Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora)
Washington Co., NC
21 June 2006 |
 |
Swamp Tupelo, Water Gum, Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009Leaves are often, but not necessarily, shiny above. |
 |
Swamp Tupelo, Water Gum, Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009By late summer, a scattering of red leaves is visible on most Nyssa trees. |
 |
Swamp Tupelo, Water Gum, Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009Young bark may be fairly smooth |
 |
Swamp Tupelo, Water Gum, Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009Medium age bark forms flattened plates. |
 |
Swamp Tupelo, Water Gum, Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora)
Washington Co., NC
21 June 2006Bark of larger tree. |
Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; Alan Weakley's Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Supplemental resources include USDA plants website, and NatureServe.