Trees or shrubs; leaves simple, alternate, opposite or whorled; fruit mostly a drupe, 1 or 2 seeded.

1. NYSSA. The Tupelos.Nyssa sylvÁtica Marshall. Gum. Black Gum. Sour Gum. Yellow Gum. Pepperidge. Plate 120. Medium to large sized trees; bark on old trees deeply and irregularly furrowed, the ridges broken up into small lengths; twigs at first pubescent, becoming glabrous; leaves oval-obovate or oblong, blades 5-12 cm. long on petioles 0.5-2 cm. long, rather abruptly acuminate at apex, narrowed at the base, sometimes rounded, margins entire, petioles and both surfaces pubescent when they unfold, becoming glabrous above and glabrous or nearly so beneath at maturity; flowers appear in May or June, the staminate in clusters, numerous, small greenish-white, the pistillate 2-8 or solitary; fruit ripens in autumn, a fleshy drupe, 1-3 of a cluster ripening on a pedicel 2-6 cm. long, ovoid, usually 10-12 mm. long, blue-black, sour and astringent; stone generally cylindric and tapering at each end and with 10-12 indistinct ribs.

Plate 120

Distribution.—Maine, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, southeastern Wisconsin[66] to Missouri and south to the Gulf. Found throughout Indiana and no doubt was a native of practically every county. It is an infrequent to a very rare tree in the northern half of the State, becoming a common tree in certain parts of the southern counties. In the northern part of the State it is usually found on dry ground associated with the oaks, although it is also found with sugar maple and beech.

Remarks.—Wood heavy, soft, very difficult to split. Woodsmen always speak of two kinds of black gum. There is one form which splits easily which is designated as "yellow gum." This distinction has not been substantiated. The uses of gum are many. The quality of not splitting makes many uses for it. The greater amount of gum is used as rough stuff. In the manufactures it is used for mine rollers, heading, boxes, hatter's blocks, water pipes, firearms, wooden ware, musical instruments, etc.

The distinctive habit of growth of the black gum together with the gorgeous coloring of the autumnal foliage recommend this species for ornamental planting. It has an upright habit of growth, although the trunk is more or less crooked. The crown when grown in the open is usually pyramidal, composed of horizontal crooked branches.

2. CÒRNUS. Dogwood.Cornus flÓrida LinnÆus. Dogwood. Flowering Dogwood. Plate 121. Usually a small tree[67] 1-2 dm. in diameter; bark deeply fissured, the ridges divided into short oblong, pieces; branchlets slender, in winter condition turning up at the tips; twigs green and smooth or nearly so from the first; leaves oval or slightly obovate, blades generally 5-12 cm. long on petioles about 1 cm. long, generally abruptly taper-pointed at apex, gradually narrowed and generally oblique at the base, margins thickened and entire, or very slightly crenulate, appressed pubescent both above and beneath, light green above and a grayish-green beneath; flowering heads surrounded by an involucre of 4 large white or pinkish bracts; the mature bracts are obovate, 2-4 cm. long, notched at the apex, appear before the leaves in April or May; flowers are in a head, numerous, small and greenish, opening usually about the middle of May as the leaves appear or even when the leaves are one-third grown; fruit ripens in September or October, an ovoid red drupe about 1 cm. long, usually about 3-5 flowers of a head mature fruit; stone elliptic and pointed at each end.

Plate 121

Distribution.—Southern Maine, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, to Missouri and south to Florida and west to Texas. Found in all parts of Indiana. Frequent to very common in all beech-sugar maple woods of the State. It is very rare or absent in the prairie area of the northwest part of the State, although it has been found in upland woods in all of the counties bordering Lake Michigan. It is also a frequent or more common tree in most parts of the State associated with white oak, or in the southern part of the State with black and white oak. It prefers a dry habitat, and is rarely found in wet situations.

Remarks.—Wood hard, heavy, strong, close-grained and takes a high polish. The Indians made a scarlet dye from the roots. It was used much by the pioneers for wedges, mallets and handles for tools. The trees are so small that they do not produce much wood. The present supply is used principally for shuttles, golfheads, brush blocks, engraver's blocks, etc.

The mature fruit is much relished by squirrels and birds.

The tree is quite conspicuous in the flowering season, and when the fruit is maturing. These features recommend it for ornamental planting, and it is used to some extent. The tree has a flat crown, and is quite shade enduring. It is very difficult to transplant, and when the tree is transplanted, if possible, some earth taken from under a live dogwood tree, should be used to fill in the hole where it is planted.