Nyssa ogeche W. Bartram ex Marshall

Ogeechee Tupelo; Ogeechee Lime; Ogeechee Plum

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Ogeechee Plum is a native deciduous tree in the Sour Gum family (Nyssaceae). It has been found in Barbour County in southeast Alabama. Ogeechee Plum occurs along streams and rivers, in depression swamps, and in moist woods. It is a medium sized tree 30-60 feet in height. It typically has multiple, twisted trunks or large branches from near the base and a swollen buttress. The bark is irregularly fissured and light gray in color. Young twigs are green in color and pubescent. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to narrowly obovate in outline, with entire margins or with a few large teeth near the apex. The leaves are glabrous above and glabrous or pubescent on the lower surface, especially along the veins. The leaves turn yellow, orange, or reddish before falling in the autumn. Flowers are solitary or in umbel-like clusters from the axils of the leaves. The small greenish-yellow flowers are staminate, bisexual, or pistillate. The fruit is a yellow, orange, or red drupe. Ogeechee Plum is listed as an S1 species in Alabama (typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G4/5 species (G4 - imperiled globally because of rarity or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors, G5 - demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery). Ogeechee Plum is an important nectar source for bees, and thousands of acres have been planted in southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle to produce tupelo honey. The fruit has an acidic taste and has been used for preserves and as a substitute for limes. The fruit is also consumed by a variety if wildlife ranging from ducks to black bears.—A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL) S1 (State Rank) G4G5 (Global Rank)

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