FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Three bundle scars revealed when leaf is pulled away from stem. Individual leaves will sporadically turn brilliant red as early as mid-summer, along with Nyssa biflora (swamp tupelo). Bark on older trees divided into rectangular sections. Thick twigs and branches with a diaphragmed pith, as in all Nyssa species.
Description: Medium to large deciduous tree, to 25 m.
Leaves: Alternate, elliptic leaves, wider past the middle somewhat shiny above. Margins usually entire, sometimes toothed on young trees, pubescent beneath. Leaves appear clustered at branch tips.
Flowers/Fruit: Separate trees produce male and female flowers. Fruits are small, egg-shaped, dark blue-black drupes, 1 to 1.5 cm wide, on long stalks. Flowers April to June; fruits August to October.
Habit and Range: Found in dry uplands and seldomly flooded wetlands statewide, except absent from the northeast part of the state.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
Nyssa sylvatica (blackgum) leaves can be confused with Diospyros virginiana (common persimmon), but Nyssa sylvatica has shinier leaves with scattered teeth and petioles are not velvety hairy. N. sylvatica also has wider, thinner leaves with sharper tips than N. biflora (swamp tupelo) and can be found outside wetlands. Leaves of Nyssa sylvatica are similar in shape to Lindera benzoin (northern spicebush), which has lemony fragrant, waxy-coated leaves and small red fruits.
Click here to view Diospyros virginiana.
Click here to view Lindera benzoin.
Link to side-by-side comparisons page
