Maine Tree
Species Fact Sheet
Common
Name:
Black
Tupelo (Black Gum, Sour Gum, Pepperidge and
Tupelo Gum)
Botanical
Name:
Nyssa sylvatica
Tree
Type: Deciduous
Physical
Description:
Growth
Habit: Black Tupelo is a large shade tree. It prefers evenly moist, deep acidic soils in full sun, but
is somewhat adaptable to either wet or dry soils.
It is difficult to transplant because of its taproot.
The leaves are alternate, obovate to elliptic and lustrous dark
green in the summer. They are 3 to 6 inches long and 1 1/2 to 3 inches
wide, entire or remotely toothed. Fall foliage is a mixture of scarlet,
purple, orange, yellow and green. The
bark on young trees is smooth, grayish and flaky.
On older trees, the bark is dark gray to almost black, and broken
into thick, irregular ridges which are checked across into short
segments, giving it a block-like or alligator hide appearance.
Branches become densely twiggy with age and have numerous spur
shoots.
Height:
Black
Tupelo reaches a height of 30 to 50 feet with a spread of 20 to 30 feet.
This species is hardy in zones 4-9.
Shape:
Black
Tupelo is a large shade tree that is somewhat pyramidal when young with
densely set branches. In older trees the spreading and often horizontal branches
form and irregularly rounded or flat-topped crown.
Fruit/Seed
Description/Dispersal Methods:
Black Tupelo is
polygamo-dioecious (having male and female flowers on separate plants,
but these plants having perfect flowers as well).
The flowers are small, greenish-white borne in peduncled
clusters. They are
insignificant and appear in May. The fruits are bluish-black, small and oblong.
They mature in September and October.
Birds primarily disperse the seeds.
Range
Within Maine:
This
species is found in very wet areas in Sagadahoc, Cumberland,
Androscoggin, southern Oxford, Kennebec and York Counties.
Distinguishing
Features:
Distinguishing
features of the Black Tupelo include the consistently spectacular fall
color; blocky ornamental mature bark; and horizontal branching and
flat-topped crown with age.
Interesting
Features:
The
wood of the Black Tupelo is heavy, fine-grained, very tough, but not
durable. It is used mainly
for pulp.
Black
Tupelo is also a good honey tree.
Relationship
to Wildlife:
Many
birds and animals eat the fruit and deer eat the young sprouts.
Because this species tends to have cavities, many birds and
animals use it for nesting.
Landscape
Use:
Black
Tupelo is excellent as a specimen tree and in naturalized areas.
It is also a good tree for streets in residential areas, rather
than heavily polluted areas.
Common
Problems or Pests of the Tree in Maine:
Cankers,
leaf spots, rust, tupelo leaf miner and scale attack this species. Black Tupelo is also often affected by fire, particularly if
it is growing on a dry site.
References:
Forest Trees of Maine, Twelfth Edition.
Maine Forest Service/Department of Conservation. 1995
Manual
of Woody Landscape Plants, 5th Edition.
Dirr,
Michael A. Publishing L.L.C.
1998.
United States Dept. of Agriculture:
Silvics of North America
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/nyssa/silvatica.htm
Plant
Dictionary: The Ohio State University
http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/ny_atica.html
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