FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Large leaves for a swamp tree, usually with a few "teeth". Thick twigs and branches with a diaphragmed pith.
Synonym(s): Nyssa uniflora
Description: Medium to large deciduous tree, to 30 m. Straight trunk typically buttressed when found in regularly flooded areas.
Leaves: Large, ovate or elliptic, alternate and entire or occasionally coarsely toothed. Leaves pubescent, 25 cm long and 15 cm wide, and petioles usually at least 2.5 cm long.
Flowers/Fruit: Elongated blue-black 2.5 cm long fruits occur on slender, long (8 cm) drooping stalks. Flowers April/May; fruits September/October.
Habit and Range: Floodplain swamps with (at least slowly) flowing water in the Coastal Plain, especially along the Roanoke River, Lumber River, and Waccamaw River. Not often found along creeks or small rivers.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
Nyssa aquatica (water tupelo) is found more often in flowing water than Nyssa biflora (swamp tupelo), which has smaller, untoothed leaves.
Click here to view Nyssa biflora.
Link to side-by-side comparisons page
