Nyssa aquatica

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Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Species Distribution Map
Family:NYSSACEAE
Species:Nyssa aquatica L.
Common Name:Water Tupelo; Tupelo Gum; Cotton Gum
Habitat:In standing water or damp soils near water.
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Tree
Duration:Perennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:NYAQ2
Plant Notes:Water Tupelo is a native deciduous tree in the Sour Gum family (Nyssaceae). It occurs throughout Alabama. Water Tupelo occurs in swamps, in floodplain forests, and in sloughs. It often forms pure stands in frequently flooded areas where water stands for long periods of time. Water Tupelo is a medium to large tree growing from 60-100 feet in height. The trunk is often greatly enlarged with a swollen base. Young branches are round in cross section, green in color, and pubescent. Older shoots are grey in color. The trunk has grey bark furrowed into shallow fissures and narrow ridges. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to ovate in outline, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, with the margins toothed towards the apex. The leaves are dark green above and lighter green below. Water Tupelo produces small greenish-white flowers in unisexual, axillary, stalked, umbel-like or glomerate clusters. Staminate clusters have 2-5 flowers and pistillate clusters have 1-2 flowers. Each flower has 5 small sepals and 5 small petals. The flowers are produced before or with the leaves. The fruit is a large blue-black drupe. Water Tupelo wood has a fine, uniform texture and interlocking grain. It is used for boxes, pallets, and pulp. Wood from the buttresses is much lighter in weight and has been used as a substitute for cork. The fruit of Water Tupelo are consumed by a variety of wildlife from wood ducks to raccoons, deer, and black bear. Water Tupelo can withstand long periods of flooding, and is used in wetland restorations.—A. Diamond.
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Native, OBL (NWI)
References:**

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyNYSSACEAE - Sour Gum family
Genus Nyssa
Species Nyssa aquatica L. - Water Tupelo; Tupelo Gum; Cotton Gum

Citation

Citation Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1058. 1753.
Basionym: **
Type: USA: VIRGINIA: Without data, Clayton s.n. (lectotype: BM). Lectotypified by J.L. Reveal, Phytologia 71: 470. 1991.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Bumelia denticulata Bumelia denticulata Rafinesque, New Fl. 3: 29. 1838 ("1836"). FLORIDA
Nyssa angulisans Nyssa angulisans Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 259. 1803.Nyssa uniflora Walter 1788, non Wangenheim 1787. 
Nyssa candicans var. grandidentata Nyssa candicans Michaux, var. grandidentata (F. Michaux) D. J. Browne, Trees America 426. 1857.Nyssa grandidentata F. Michaux 1812. 
Nyssa denticulata Nyssa denticulata Aiton, Hort. Kew. 3: 446. 1789. Without data (holotype: Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina 1: t. 60. 1730).
Nyssa grandidentata Nyssa grandidentata F. Michaux, Hist. Arbr. Forest. 2: 252. 1812.  
Nyssa palustris Nyssa palustris Salisbury, Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton 175. 1796, nom. illegit.Nyssa denticulata Aiton 1789. 
Nyssa tomentosa Nyssa tomentosa Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 259. 1803, non Poiret 1798. "ad amnem S. Mary et in Florida",
Nyssa uniflora Nyssa uniflora Walter, Fl. Carol. 253. 1788, non Wangenheim 1787. SOUTH CAROLINA
Nyssa uniflora Nyssa uniflora Wangenheim, Beytr. Teut. Forstwiss. 83, pl. 27(57). 1787.  
Streblina denticulata Streblina denticulata (Rafinesque) Rafinesque, Autik. Bot. 75. 1840.Bumelia denticulata Rafinesque 1838. 

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Calhoun, Choctaw, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Pike, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Washington

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, SAMF, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1880 - 1997

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.		 Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used		 Image
JSU134274 Madison 25 Jun 1993 Ballard, J. Mark
2686		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
SAMF0003819 Barbour 02 Aug 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17851		 SAMF
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UNA00009276 Baldwin 14 Apr 1988 Burckhalter, Robert
1355		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014437 Tuscaloosa 27 Sep 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
775		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009280 Fayette 7 May 1989 Burckhalter, Robert
1619		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014283 Choctaw 26 Jul 1978 Haynes, Robert R.
6773		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134139 Blount 15 May 1993 Whetstone, R. David
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA000042039 Tuscaloosa 25 May 2018 Hansen, Curtis J.
7147		 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU134279 Marshall 11 Jun 1994 Spaulding, Daniel D.
5493		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UNA00014430 Baldwin 19 Sep 1982 Powers, Maureen
s.n.		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134261 Blount 24 Jun 1969 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
TROY000042258 Houston 23 Apr 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26186		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134282 St. Clair 9 Feb 1984 Nixon, Christopher F.
530		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
USAM000004162 Baldwin 21 Oct 1977 LeLong, Michel G.
9962		 USAM
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0045179 Madison 03 Jun 2019 Ciafre, Claire M.
1489		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014439 Tuscaloosa 23 Aug 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
681		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014288 Lamar 5 Oct 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
806		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009280 Fayette 07 May 1989 Burckhalter, Robert
1619		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UWAL0035135 Limestone 02 Jun 2017 England, J. Kevin
7860		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134272 Limestone 14 Jun 1996 Whetstone, R. David
18025		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
TROY000041144 Elmore 14 Apr 2012 Pullen, Robert
388		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0049551 Morgan 11 Aug 2020 Webb, David H.
9113		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
TROY000007236 Barbour 02 Aug 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17851		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA000030768 Baldwin 16 Apr 2010 Hansen, Curtis J.
4613		 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU134267 Blount 22 May 1972 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134281 Marshall 2 Sep 1979 Wolford, Pat
0042		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA_ACC_56116 Pike 30 Jun 1996 Diamond, Alvin R.
10368		 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
TROY000049848 Covington 11 Jun 2020 Diamond, Alvin R.
29317		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134270 Etowah 31 Jul 1994 Hodge, Lesley M.
2929		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0005459 Butler 21 Aug 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
19825		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009277 Blount 16 Jul 1988 Burckhalter, Robert
1448		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009278 Dallas 28 Jul 1987 Burckhalter, Robert
1169		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009276 Baldwin 14 Apr 1988 Burckhalter, Robert
1355		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014432 Perry 26 Sep 1981 Haynes, Robert R.
8489		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00050961 Perry 16 Nov 1995 Birk, Michelle
641		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UWAL0019656 Blount 13 Aug 1987 Kral, Robert
74200		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
AUA_ACC_62867 Baldwin Jul 1968 Byford, Jim
 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU139025 Limestone 13 Jul 1996 Spaulding, Daniel D.
9084		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UNA00014287 Greene 10 May 1963 Thomas, Joab L.
743		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU143536 Blount 24 Jun 1969 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
TROY000050656 Tuscaloosa 25 May 2018 Hansen, Curtis J.
7147		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134137 Blount 17 Jun 1985 Phillips, Pamela
009		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0005458 Blount 29 Aug 1998 Keener, Brian R.
1558		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00016947 Choctaw 11 Jul 1989 Burckhalter, Robert
1667		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014431 Perry 23 Sep 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
768		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009279 Fayette 7 May 1989 Burckhalter, Robert
1612		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00050813 Lamar 25 Apr 1985 McDaniel, Sidney
28133		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014285 Geneva 15 Jun 1979 Haynes, Robert R.
7278		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134140 Blount 15 May 1993 Whetstone, R. David
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA_ACC_71744 Baldwin 15 Apr 2011 Bethke, R.K.
30		 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU134275 Madison 10 Jun 1976 Atkinson, Tim A.
1793		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
TROY000021701 Crenshaw 03 Aug 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
19693		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0050375 Tuscaloosa 25 May 2018 Hansen, Curtis J.
7147		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134264 Blount 24 Jul 1969 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
ALNHS00002356 Baldwin 03 Oct 2013 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#1261		 ALNHS
Nyssa aquatica L.
AUA_ACC_58338 Bibb 10 Jul 1999 Smith, S.T.
 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
TROY000045283 Marengo 28 Jul 2012 England, J. Kevin
3847		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0035862 Blount 28 Jul 2013 Anderson, Kelly
395		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014433 Perry 19 May 1987 Burckhalter, Robert
1024		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014438 Tuscaloosa 5 Apr 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
437		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009279 Fayette 07 May 1989 Burckhalter, Robert
1612		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
AUA000038424 Limestone 2 Jun 2017 England, J. Kevin
7860		 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU134138 Blount 13 Oct 1984 Nixon, Christopher F.
951		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
TROY000021673 Cullman 11 Oct 1978 Kral, Robert
62907		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0039430 Jackson 27 Aug 2018 Webb, David H.
8588		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134277 Madison 28 May 1973 Whetstone, R. David
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA000039437 Macon 24 Jun 1969 Atkeson, Thomas D.
69		 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU134266 Blount 22 May 1972 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0043416 Baldwin 04 Jun 2000 Larsen, Harry S.
374		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
AUA_ACC_40793 Madison 10 Jun 1976 Atkinson, T.A.
1793		 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
UNA00014293 Baldwin 28 Mar 1880 Mohr, Charles
s.n.		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134268 Cullman 4 Jul 1997 Spaulding, Daniel D.
9667		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0014716 Washington 27 Jul 2012 England, J. Kevin
3812		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UNA00014291 Marion 17 May 1987 Burckhalter, Robert
1005		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014284 Dallas 30 Sep 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
791		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009277 Blount 16 Jul 1988 Burckhalter, Robert
1448		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014436 Tuscaloosa 13 Jul 1986 Horn, Charles N.
1143		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
TROY000021700 Butler 21 Aug 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
19825		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134269 Cullman 12 Aug 1974 Whetstone, R. David
3642		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA_ACC_44701 Conecuh 8 Jul 1986 Diamond, Alvin R.
2619		 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU134278 Marshall 13 May 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
1644		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
USAM000004164 Mobile 09 Nov 1980 LeLong, Michel G.
11850		 USAM
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134263 Blount 22 May 1972 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA_ACC_62866 Calhoun 13 Aug 1957 Adams, W.H.
 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
UNA00068716 Blount 29 Aug 1998 Keener, Brian R.
1558		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00047690 Dale 08 Apr 1997 MacDonald, John R.
10236		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UWAL0017460 Marengo 28 Jun 2012 England, J. Kevin
3847		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UNA00009281 Jackson 18 Aug 1988 Burckhalter, Robert
1469		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014435 Pickens 31 May 1987 Burckhalter, Robert
1043		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009278 Dallas 28 Jul 1987 Burckhalter, Robert
1169		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134271 Jackson 22 May 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
697		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
TROY000039315 Montgomery 29 Jun 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
25261		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0052050 Madison 17 Oct 2020 England, J. Kevin
11411		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134276 Madison 28 May 1973 Whetstone, R. David
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA_ACC_5866 Macon 9 Jul 1968 Johnson, S.C.
 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU134265 Blount 22 May 1972 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0016453 Montgomery 29 Jun 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
25261		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA_ACC_236 Talladega 16 Aug 1898 Andrews, Elizabeth F.
 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
UNA00014292 Mobile 10 Jun 1894 Mohr, Charles
s.n.		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
JSU134273 Limestone 12 Oct 1998 Hofmann, Tim L.
01818		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UWAL0017678 Houston 23 Apr 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26186		 UWAL
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UNA00014289 Lamar 17 May 1987 Burckhalter, Robert
1003		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014434 Perry 29 Apr 1986 Burckhalter, Robert
463		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00009281 Jackson 18 Aug 1988 Burckhalter, Robert
1469		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
UNA00014290 Madison 4 Jul 1980 Haynes, Robert R.
7963		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
TROY000007237 Covington 20 Oct 2000 Crowell, Julie
3		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134283 Madison 10 Jun 1976 Whetstone, R. David
8389		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
AUA_ACC_34635 Covington 15 Apr 1979 Coggins, W.A.
 AUA
Nyssa Aquatica L.
JSU134280 Marshall 13 May 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
1612		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
USAM000004163 Mobile 09 Nov 1980 LeLong, Michel G.
11850		 USAM
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
UNA00014286 Greene 5 Oct 1968 Thomas, Joab L.
1845		 UNA
Nyssa aquatica L.
TROY000050252 Autauga 04 Nov 2020 Parker, Matthew R.
1897		 TROY
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
JSU134262 Blount 17 Jun 1985 Phillips, Pamela
009		 JSU
Nyssa aquatica Linnaeus
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