Nyssa aquatica L.

 Kingdom-Plantae (plant)  Subkingdom-Trachebionta (vascular)  Superdivision-Spermaphyta (seed)  Division-Magnoliophyta (flowering)  Class-Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)  Subclass-Rosidae  Order-Cornales  Family-Cornaceae (dogwood)  Genus-Nyssa L. (tupelo)  Species-Nyssa aqautica L. (water tupelo)

Moderately growing deciduous tree. 50’ to 80’ high. 25’ to 50’ wide. 4 foot trunk in diameter. Swollen base that flares outward. fig. 1

Dark brown or dark gray bark. Finely fissured and thin, if broken the bark is likely to contract a fungus. fig. 2 fig. 3

Twigs can be yellowish brown, red brown, or just brown. Large heart shaped leaf scars are present. Spur shoots are common. fig. 4

Simple, alternate leaves about 4”to 8” in length. About 4” in width. Oval shaped but tipped. Gradually smooth with some margins or teeth. A dark green but paler underneath. Leaves turn yellow in the fall. fig. 5 fig. 6

Smooth and rounded buds usually small and light colored. fig. 7

Flowers bloom in early spring. Trees can be only male or female. Flowers are greenish white, the males blooming clusters, the females blooming solitary flowers. Trees may not flower until after the age of thirty. fig. 8

Tear shaped red or dark purple drupe. Usually 1” to 1.5” in length. They ripen in September. There is one seed inside and they are bitter. Trees may not develop drupes until after 30. fig. 9 fig. 10

They grow in sunlight or partial shade. They can grow in many types of soil including water. Southeast United States as far north as southern Illinois. fig. 11 fig. 12

Good ornamental in wet areas. The wood is soft and can be used for crates, floors, and broom handles. Lighter wood at the bottom of the tree is used for pulp. fig. 13

fig. 1- Evans, Erv. (Photographer). Tree. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 2-Bark. [Web]. Retrieved from brmedium15804.htmhttp:// brmedium15804.htm fig. 3-Bark. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 4-Twig. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 5-Leaf. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 6- Baskauf, Steven. (Photographer). (2002). Leaf. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 7- Baskauf, Steven. (Photographer). (2002). Twig. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 8- Hogan, Mike. (Photographer). (2004). Flower. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 9-Fruit. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 10- Hogan, Mike. (Photographer). (2004). Fruit. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 11-Illinios. [Web]. Retrieved from aquatica.htmlhttp:// aquatica.html fig. 12-Map. [Web]. Retrieved from fig. 13-Tree. [Web]. Retrieved from aquatica.htmlhttp:// aquatica.html All found June 22, 2010

- Missouri botanical garden. (2001). Retrieved from Nyssa aquatica. (n.d.). Retrieved from -Evans, Erv. (n.d.). Trees: nyssa aquatica. Retrieved from new/nyssa_aquatica.html new/nyssa_aquatica.html - Tupelo gum. (n.d.). Retrieved from id/tupelo-gum.htmhttp:// id/tupelo-gum.htm - Usda plant profile. (2010, May 19). Retrieved from Virginia tech university. (n.d.). Retrieved from Water tupelo. (2008, April 5). Retrieved from All found June 22, 2010