Plant
Blackgum
Nyssa sylvatica
Also known as: black tupelo, tupelo, sour gum
A native deciduous tree of moist forests across eastern North America — long-lived (300–600 years), early to color (often the borough's first red leaves of fall, sometimes by August), and notable as a wildlife food source. Small dark blue-purple drupes in late summer are eaten by ~32 bird species. Found in Staten Island's wetter forest pockets and at the Greenbelt's interior.
Scientific
Nyssa sylvatica is a 50–80 ft deciduous tree of moist eastern forests. Long-lived — individuals over 600 years old documented in some old-growth Appalachian sites. Among the most-conspicuous early fall-color trees: scarlet-red leaves often appearing as early as August, well before most other deciduous species.
Small dark drupes (“tupelo berries”) ripen in late summer. ~32 bird species eat them — robins, thrushes, mockingbirds, and migrating songbirds use them as fall fueling food.
Tupelo flowers are a major nectar source for honeybees in the Southeast — “tupelo honey” from Florida and Georgia is a recognized regional product. The species’ nectar value is more local in the Northeast.
On Staten Island
Present in SI’s wetter forest pockets and at the Greenbelt’s interior — preferring slightly damp, acidic, shaded sites. Less abundant than oaks, maples, or tulip-trees on the borough but consistently present.
See also
Auto-generated from this entry’s typed relations: frontmatter, grouped by relation type so the editorial signal isn’t flattened.
- Member of: [[plants]]
- Contained by: [[staten-island]]
Sources
- USDA Forest Service Silvics of North America: blackgum
- Northeastern wildlife-food native-tree references
Rooted in life.
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