Black Tupelo, Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Family Nyssaceae

Characteristics:
* Leaves dark green and lustrous above, hairless below, leathery, firm, ovate with a blunt tip, 2-4".
* Twigs light green to orange, turning light brown, with pale lenticels.
* Bark rough, thick, dark grayish black, with deep, narrow furrows and irregular horizontal hatch marks.
* Height: 20-50'.

Natural History:
* Habitat: Moist woods and swamps.
* Range: Western Maine to northern Florida, west to Michigan and eastern Texas.
* Native.

Connections!
* Wellesley's Class of 1896 planted a tupelo as their class tree, on the stretch of land known forever after as Tupelo Point. Tupelo Point is steeped in tradition; it must be passed three times by lovers as they walk around the lake, and then the man must propose. The annual hoop-rolling competition starts on Tupelo Point. Following are the words to a popular Wellesley song:

O Thou Tupelo!
O thou Tupelo! Thou hast a certain magic charm,
O thou Tupelo! Thou hast a magic charm.
A magic charm is thine, love,
The charmer there is mine, love.
O thou Tupelo! Thou hast a certain magic charm,
O thou Tupelo! Thou hast a magic charm.

O thou Tupelo! Thou hast the lake, the moon, and stars,
O thou Tupelo! Thou hast the lake, moon, and stars.
The moon and stars are thine, love,
The sun that's there is mine, love.
O thou Tupelo! Thou hast the lake, the moon, and stars,
O thou Tupelo! Thou hast the lake, moon, and stars.