Nyssa sylvatica Marshall

Black Gum; Black Tupelo; Sour Gum

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Black Gum is a native deciduous tree in the Sour Gum family (Nyssaceae). It occurs throughout Alabama. Black Gum occurs in mesic to dry upland hardwood forests, in rocky woods, and occasionally in low forests and wetlands. It is a medium to large tree growing from 60-90 feet in height. The trunk is straight and not swollen at the base. Young branches are round in cross section, green in color, and pubescent. Older shoots are grey in color. The trunk has grey bark furrowed into shallow fissures and narrow ridges. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to obovate in outline, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, with the margins having a few teeth towards the apex. The leaves are dark green above and lighter green below. Black Gum produces small greenish-white flowers in unisexual, axillary, stalked, umbel-like or glomerate clusters. Staminate clusters have 2-5 flowers and pistillate clusters have 3-5 flowers. Each flower has 5 small sepals and 5 small petals. The flowers are produced before or with the leaves. The fruit is a blue-black drupe. Black Gum wood has a fine, uniform texture and interlocking grain. It is used for boxes, pallets, and pulp. The fruit of Black Gum are consumed by a variety of wildlife. Black Gum leaves turn bright scarlet to orange before falling in the autumn. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental shade tree. The long taproot makes moving larger plants difficult. Black Gum prefers a well-draining site with full sun. It is often slow growing, at least until it becomes established.—A. Diamond.

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Native FAC (NWPL)

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