Nyssa sylvatica var. sylvatica
Nyssa sylvatica sylvatica
Adaptation 5
A wide variety of sites have adapted to the Blackgum. They range from the creek bottoms of the southern Coastal Plain to altitudes of 3,000 feet in North Carolina. It grows best on well-drained, light-textured soils on the low ridges of second bottoms and on the high flats of silt alluvium. Blackgum will tolerate brief spring flooding on alluvial sites and is common on the relatively dry upper and middle slopes in the Appalachian Mountains. On the drier uplands, it grows best on loam and clay loam. It is well adapted to fire. Older trees have thick bark and relatively high moisture content. Although aboveground portions of young trees are top-killed by fire, it typically survives by sprouting from the root crown or caudex.
Comments 6
Black Tupelo is showiest during the autumn when its leaves assume brilliant colors and some of its fruit is still hanging on the tree. Other common names of this tree are Black Gum and Sour Gum. A variety of Black Tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica biflora (Swamp Tupelo), is very similar to the typical variety that is described here. Swamp Tupelo differs by having smaller leaves (less than 2½" long) that are more oblong in shape. The seeds of its fruits are more deeply grooved than those of Black Tupelo. Swamp Tupelo is sometimes treated as a distinct species, Nyssa biflora. It is often found in swamps and its distribution is more southern. In Illinois, Swamp Tupelo is restricted to the southern tip of the state, where it is rare. Another species, Nyssa aquatica (Water Tupelo), prefers swamps with standing water and areas along major rivers that are frequently flooded. It is a tall tree (up to 100') with a long straight trunk that is swollen at the base; Water Tupelo is a frequent associate of Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum). This tree is also restricted to southern Illinois. It differs from Black Tupelo by having larger fruits (up to 1" long) that are borne individually, rather than in sessile clusters. It also has longer petioles. Sometimes, trees in this genus are assigned to the Dogwood family (Cornaceae).
Economic uses 7
Uses: MEDICINE/DRUG
Faunal associations 8
Information about insect pollinators of the flowers is scant, although honeybees and undoubtedly other bees are attracted to the nectar of the flowers. Compared to other tree species, Black Tupelo is a host plant of relatively few insects. These species include caterpillars of several moths that feed on the foliage
Fire ecology 9
More info for the terms: caudex, swamp
Black tupelo is well adapted to fire. Older trees have thick bark and
relatively high moisture content [48]. Swamp tupelo sites are usually
quite wet and fire is only a factor during periods of extended drought
[5,44]. Although aboveground portions of young black tupelo are
top-killed by fire, the species typically survives by sprouting from the
root crown or caudex [32,53].
Fire management considerations 10
Fire can be a useful management tool for controlling black tupelo and
other hardwoods. Depending on the season and type of treatment,
repeated burning over a long period of time has been reported as an
effective control of black tupelo [38,54]. Riebold [47] suggests annual
winter prescribed burns for controlling black tupelo and other hardwoods
up to 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm) d.b.h. Black tupelo will sprout, but the
sprouts can be killed by repeated winter fires before they reach 1 to 2
inch (2.5-5 cm) d.b.h.
Repeated summer fires in the early growing season when the leaves are
fully expanded is also a very effective method of weakening and
eventually killing black tupelo [11].
Habitat characteristics 11
More info for the terms: swamp, tree
Black tupelo is adapted to a wide variety of sites, from the creek
bottoms of the southern Coastal Plain to altitudes of 3,000 feet (915 m)
in North Carolina. Black tupelo will tolerate brief spring flooding on
alluvial sites and is common on the relatively dry upper and middle
slopes in the Appalachian Mountains. On the drier uplands, black tupelo
will survive but with a slower growth rate [4,26]. Swamp tupelo is
found in and on the banks of swamps, ponds, and estuaries of the Coastal
Plain, and in low coves and seepages which remain wet year-round
[1,19,44].
Common tree associates of both varieties are: black cherry (Prunus
serotina), dogwood (Cornus florida), hickory (Carya spp.), oak (Quercus
spp.), eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria),
swamp cyrilla (Cyrilla racemiflora), and redbay (Persea borbonia)
[13,17,42,43,45].
Importance to livestock and wildlife 12
Black tupelo sprouts are commonly browsed by white-tailed deer but lose
palatability with age [8,16,30]. The fruit is high in nutrients and is
eaten by a variety of birds and mammals [4,27,37].
Palatability 13
Stumps sprouts of black tupelo are reported to be a moderate to high
palatability browse to white-tailed deer [16,30].
Sources and Credits
- (c) Jason Sturner, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/50352333@N06/4646555170
- (c) Scott Namestnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://eol.org/media/9316970
- (c) "<a href=""http://www.knps.org"">Kentucky Native Plant Society</a>. Scanned by <a href=""http://www.omnitekinc.com/"">Omnitek Inc</a>.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=nysy_001_avd.tif
- (c) Steven J. Baskauf, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/baskauf/27929
- Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/1388710
- (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29586625
- (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29041370
- (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29450194
- Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24641654
- Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24641659
- Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24641651
- Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24253675
- Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/23370244
