Nyssa biflora Walter

Swamp Tupelo; Water Gum; Swamp Black Gum

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Swamp Tupelo is a native deciduous tree in the Sour Gum family (Nyssaceae). It is native to most of Alabama. Swamp Tupelo occurs in swamps, in depression ponds, along streams and rivers, and in ox bow lakes. It often has enlarged (buttressed) bases, especially when it occurs in areas with standing water. Swamp Tupelo is a medium sized tree ranging in height from 30-90 feet. The bark is gray-tan in color and irregularly fissured. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, oblanceolate to elliptic in outline, with entire margins or occasionally with a few teeth near the apex. The leaves are glabrous or pubescent along the veins on the lower surface, and turn red in the autumn before falling. Flowers are produced in unisexual axillary umbels or heads. Staminate heads are 2-8 flowered and pistillate heads are 1-3 flowered. The flowers have 5 yellowish-green petals. The fruit is a purple-black drupe. Swamp Tupelo fruit are consumed by a wide variety of wildlife including black bears, raccoons, wood ducks, and song birds. The wood is dense with an interlocking grain making it difficult to split. It is used for pulp, inexpensive furniture, pallets, flooring, and gunstocks.—A. Diamond

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Native

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