|
By Craig Huegel Reprinted from The Understory, Sep-Oct. 1993 Although the virtues of its honey are well known (remember Van Morrison?), the tupelos or gums are rarely used in the landscpe. This is regrettable since they are both attractive and useful trees. Florida is home to all three species of Nyssa found in North America. Water tupelo (N. aquatica) and ogeechee lime (N. ogeche) are native to north Florida wetlands, while black gum (N. sylvatica) is more widely distributed throughout north and central Florida. In Pinellas County, black gum is a common component of cypress swamps and hydric hammocks. All three species have been planted at the retention pond landscape located at the County Extension Office. Tupelos are deciduous trees that remain leafless for several months in late winter. Their leaves turn a brilliant scarlet red and provide some of the best fall color that we get in this area. Like cypress, they form straight solid trunks and rather narrow crowns. The base of their trunks also often become broad and barrel-shaped. Gums are long-lived hardy trees. Few diseases or pests are likely to bother them. In a home landscape they could be expected to live for hundreds of years with little maintenance. Although a wetland tree by nature, tupelos are adaptable. This shouldn't be too surprising, however, since many of our most used native trees, including red maple and laurel oak are also essentially wetland trees. All that is required is some extra watering while becoming established. This genus also is excellent for wildlife. The small, fragrant flowers which bloom in the spring attract many pollinating insects and these in turn provide food for resident and migratory songbirds. In the fall, the fruits are eagerly consumed by birds and small mammals. Of course, the crowns of these stately trees make good nesting and hiding cover. The three species have some unique differences that should be pointed out for consideration before deciding to add them to your landscape. Remember, only black gum is native this far south. The others may require some specisl care in Pinellas County and may not perform as well here as they might farther north. Water tupelo may reach 90 feet in height. As its name suggests, it is the most tolerant of flooded conditions and is one of the few trees that will grow in standing water for long periods of time. In many respects, it looks quite similar to black gum. Unlike both its relatives, however, water tupelo produces both male and female flowers on the same tree and so has the ability to pollinate itself and bear fruit. The purple fruit are 1 to 1-1/2 inches long. Ogeechee lime is a shrubby tree that rarely reaches 50 feet in height. It also is dioecious, meaning that individuals are either male or female. Fruit on the females is rather large (1-1/2 inches), red and quite acidic. These "limes" are edible and can be used in drinks and jellies. They ripen in summer. Black gum can become a 120-foot tree, but usually matures at about 90 feet. Two forms exist and some taxonomists consider them to be separate species. Variety sylvatica occurs in upland forest habitats in north Florida while variety biflora is largely a bottomland forest resident in north and central parts of the state. Otherwise the two forms are essentially identical. This too is a dioecious tree, but the fruit are only 1/2 inch long and much more easily used by smaller songbirds. |
