CHAP. XCVI.

santala'cem. ny'ss^.

1317

i I. N, biFlo'ra Michx. The twin-flowered Nyssa, or Tupelo Tree.

Identification. Michx. FI. Bor. Amer., 2. p. 259.; Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 1113.

Synonymes. N. aquatica Lin. Sp. Pl.> 1511., Hort. Cliffy 4!i2., Du 2ioi Harbfc ., 1. p. 414., Michx. N.Amer. Syl ., iii. p. 36.; N. carolinikna L. ; N. integrifolia Ait. Hort. Kcw , 3. p. 446., Smith in Mees’sCyclop. ; N. pedunculis unifluris Gron. Virg.* 121. j Mountain Tupelo, Mart. Mill, j Gum Tree, SourGum Tree, Peperidge, Amer.

Engravings. Catesb. Car., 1. 141. j Pluk. Aim., 1172. f. 6 .; and our Jigs. 1195, 1196.

Spec. Char., §c. Leaves ovate-oblong, entire, acute at both ends, glabrous.Female flowers two upon a peduncle. (Willd. Sp. PL, iv. p. 1113.) Thedrupe is short and obovate, and the nut striated. ( Michavx .) A decidu-ous tree, a native of Virginia and Ca-rolina, in watery places, where itgrows to the height of 40 ft. or 45 ft.;flowering in April and May. It wasintroduced in 1739, and is one of themost common sorts in British collec-tions. The tupelo tree is most abun-dant in the southern parts of NewYork, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania,where it grows only in wet ground;having a clear stem, of a uniform size,front the base to the height of 5 ft. or6 ft., where it throws out horizontal branches. On old trees the bark is“ thick, deeply furrowed, and, unlike that of every other tree, divided intohexagons, which are sometimes nearly regular.” (Michx. N. Amer. Syl., iii.p. 37). The leaves are smooth, slightly glabrous below, and often unitedin bunches at the extremity of the young lateral shoots. The flowers aresmall, and scarcely apparent; but the fruit, which is always abundant, andattached in pairs, is of a deep blue colour, and is ornamental, remaining onthe tree after the falling of the leaf, and affording food for birds. “ Tbetupelo holds a middle place between trees with hard and those with softwood. When perfectly seasoned, the sap-wood is of a light reddish tint,and the heart-wood of a deep brown. Of trees exceeding 15 in. or 18in.in diameter, more than half the trunk is hollow.” (Michx. ) The timberof the tupelo is of little value, but, from its peculiar organisation (the fibresbeing united in bundles, and interwoven like a braided cord), it is extremelydifficult to split. It is on this account much esteemed in America forwooden bowls. As fuel, it burns slowly, and diffuses a great heat. “AtPhiladelphia, many persons, when making their provision of wood for thewinter, select a certain proportion of the tupelo, which is sold separately,for logs.” (Michx.). In British gardens it does not appear that muchpains have ever been taken to encourage the growth of this or any otherspecies of Nyssa; for though there are abundance of plants to be procuredin the nurseries, yet there are very few of a tree-like size to be seen inpleasure-grounds. The largest tupelo tree that we know of in England isat the Countess of Shaftesbury’s villa at Richmond, where it is 45 ft. high,and has a trunk 1 ft. 4 in. in diameter. There are, also, a tree in Lee’s Nursery20 ft. high ; one in the grounds of the villa of the late Mr. Vere, at Kensing-ton Gore, about 15 ft. high; one at the Duke of Wellington’s, at Strathfield-saye, 30 ft. high; and some at White Knights; from all of which, except thatat Lady Shaftesbury’s, we have received specimens when in flower, and allthese were male blossoms. At Schwobber, in Hanover (see p. 148.), there isa nyssa40 ft. high. To insure the prosperity of the tree, it ought always to beplanted in moist peat, or near water. The trees at Strathfieldsaye and atSchwobber are in moist meadows, on a level with the water of adjoining rivers.

¥ 2. N. (b.) villo'sa Michx. The hairy-feared Nyssa, or Tupelo Tree.

Identification. Michx. FI. Bor. Amer., 2. p. 258. j Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 1112. j Pursh FI. Amer., Sept.1. p. 177. **

Synonymes. N. sylvatica Mich. N. Amer. Syl.* 3. p.33., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; N. multiflOra Wan.genlt. Amer.* 46. t.16. f. 39.; N. mont&na Hort. ; N. pedunculis multiflbris Gron. Virg ., 121. ; GourGum Tree, Black Gum, Yellow Gum, Amer. ; haariger Tulpelobaum, Ger. ’

Engravings. Wangenh. Amer., 1.16. f. 39.; Michx. N. Amer. Syl., 3. t. 110 .5 and ouejigs. 1197, 1198.

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