

How to identify Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
Black gum, also known as Sour gum, Beetlebung
Black gum exhibits a deeply furrowed, textural bark and branches that extend at approximately 90-degree angles from the main stem. Its leaves are elliptic to obovate with a lustrous, dark green upper surface and a lighter green on the undersides. In autumn, the foliage transforms, showcasing a vivid display of yellow, orange, purple, and red hues. The leaf margins are entire, but some might have irregular, coarse teeth toward the tips. From September to October, it bears bluish-black drupes. A key identification feature is the plant's chambered pith and the distinct arrangement of vascular bundles found within the leaf scars.
Elliptic to obovate leaves with lustrous dark green upper surface
Distinct bluish-black drupes clustered on stalks in late summer to fall
Chambered pith and unique vascular bundle arrangement in leaf scars
Ridged texture on developing bark evolving into cobbled rectangular blocks
Slender branches growing at right angles from the trunk, forming a distinctive pattern
Black gum's leaves are dark green on the upper surface and paler green underneath. They measure 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 cm) long and 0.5 to 3 inches (1.3 to 7.6 cm) wide. The leaves are alternate, elliptic to obovate, with blunt points and pubescent veins. In the fall, they turn yellow, orange, red, or purple. On young trees, leaves may feature coarse teeth. The reddish petiole is 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) long.
The flowers of black gum bloom from May to June and are small, greenish-yellow in color. They are about 1/8 inch (3 mm) in diameter and occur in small clusters. Each individual flower is inconspicuous, lacking showy features. The flowers are arranged in such a way that they can easily be overlooked, contributing to the overall subtlety of the plant's floral display.
The stem of black gum is characterized by its gray to brown coloration. The slender, moderately thick limbs grow at right angles to the trunk. It possesses a smooth to slightly rough texture, slightly scaly as it matures. Typically, the branches are slender, measuring around 0.2 - 0.8 inches (0.5 - 2 cm) in diameter. The angular growth pattern and color make it a distinctive feature for identifying this plant.
The fruit of black gum is a drupe, transitioning from green to a bluish-black hue as it matures by late summer to fall. These fruits are distinctly round to oval in shape, each measuring approximately 3/8 to 1/2 inch long (9.5 to 12.7 millimeters) and are clustered on stalks roughly 1 1/2 inches long (38 millimeters). They have a thin, bitter-smelling flesh encasing small, ribbed seeds. Notably sour to the palate, they are primarily consumed by birds and small mammals rather than humans.
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Scientific Classification of Black gum