Practical
Plants

Nyssa sylvatica

Black Tupelo

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Nyssa genus in the family Nyssaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Nyssaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
15 m
Spread
12 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked. A thin sharply acid pulp that is pleasant to roll in the mouth as a masticatory[5], it is also used in preserves[4][5]. Pleasantly acidulous[6]. The fruit is up to 15mm in diameter and is borne in small clusters of 2 - 3[16][7].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bark is emetic, ophthalmic and vermifuge[11]. An infusion has been used as a bath and also given to children with worms[11]. A strong decoction is used to cause vomiting when unable to retain food[11]. A strong ooze from the roots is used as eye drops[11].

Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - tough, not durable, soft, heavy, hard to work and warps easily. It has an intricately contorted and twisted grain[16]. It weighs 40lb per cubic foot and is used for making boxes, soles of shoes, wooden pipes, wheel hubs, veneer etc[12][13][14][16][3][8][10].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Maine to Florida, west to Ontario and Texas.
Habitat
Low acid woods, swamps and shores in imperfectly drained soils[2][12]. Also found on high wooded slopes in the south of its range[16].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed can be sown in late winter in a cold frame[15] but would probably benefit from an earlier sowing if the seed can be obtained any sooner. Three months stratification at 5°c improves germination[7]. Germination rates are variable[15]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Layering.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although this is a plant of swamps and other wet soils in the wild, once established it can succeed in Britain when growing in an ordinary good loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[2][7]. It prefers a neutral to alkaline soil according to one report[7], whilst another says that it requires a lime-free soil[17]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution and growing in maritime regions[7]. A very ornamental tree[1], it has a moderate rate of growth and moderate longevity[9]. Resents root disturbance, it is difficult to transplant except when young[2]. The tree does not come into leaf until late May. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩

  9. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

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  10. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

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  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  15. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

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