III.

CHAP. XCVI.

SANTALA CEJE. NY SS A.

1319

1 theion along,Nut

madethoritylaux toirginia,id leveluliarityire it isagnolia; Lasi-base,in dia-in. or” (A T .biflora,of thenerallylescrip-rowingsideredobablyto thismber ishe onlyMessrs,d malell being

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i 1806 .

The leaves are 5 in. or Gin. long, oval, rarely denticulated, of a light greenabove, and glaucous beneath. The flowers are similar to those of the largetupelo (N. grandidentata), but the sexes are borne by separate trees; andMichaux remarks, “ as a peculiarity witnessed in no other tree of NorthAmerica , that the male and female trees are easily distinguished by theirgeneral appearance when the leaves have fallen. The branches of the maleare more compressed about the trunk, and rise in a direction more nearlyperpendicular; those of the female diffuse themselves horizontally, andform a larger and rounder summit. The fruit is supported by long peduncles,and is about IJin. in length, of a light red colour, and of an oval shape.It is thick-skinned, intensely acid, and contains, like that of the largetupelo, a large oblong stone, deeply channeled on both sides.” {Michx.N, Amer, Syl, , iii. p. 43, 44.) This appears to be the kind of Nyssamentioned in Martyn’s Miller , as not then introduced, but which is saidto be described by Mr. Humphry Marshall , from Bartram’s catalogue, “ asa tree of great singularity and beauty, rising to the height of 30 ft.; thefruit of which is of a deep scarlet colour, and of the size of a damasceneplum. It has an agreeable acid taste, whence it is called the lime tree.”Professor Martyn adds that Bartram calls it Nyssa coccinea, and observesthat there is no tree which exhibits a more desirable appearance than this,in the autumn, when the fruit is ripe, and the tree is partly divested of itsleaves; for then “the remainder looks as red as scarlet, and the fruit is of thatcolour also.” It is the shape of the olive, but larger, and contains an agreeableacid juice. “ The most northern habitation of this tree yet known,” he adds,“is on the great Ogechee, where it is called the Ogecheelime, from its acidfruit being about the size of limes, and being sometimes used in theirstead.” There is a plant, bearing the name of N. capitata, in the arbo-retum of Messrs. Loddiges, 6 ft. or 7 ft. high; which, from its foliage, wehave no doubt, is indentical with Michaux’s figure.

t 4. N. grandidenta'ta Michx . The deeply-toothed -leaved Nyssa, orLarge Tupelo Tree

Identification. Michx. N. Amer. Syl., 3. p. 40.

Synonymes. N. tomentbsa, and N. angul'izans, Michx^ FI. Bor. Amer., 2. p. 259. j N. denticulata Ait.Hort. Kew., 3. p. 446., Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 1114. ; N. angulosa Poir .; N. uniflbra Wangenh. Amer..p. 83.; Wild Olive, Amer .; Virginian Water Tupelo, Mart. Milt.

Engravings. Wangenh. Amer., t. 27. f. 57.Catesb. Car., 1, t. 60. ; Michx. N. Amer. Sylva, 3.1.112 •and our figs. 1200, 1201. ’ ’

Spec. Char., $c. Leaf with a long petiole, and a disk that is oblong, acuminate, distantly serrate.Female flowers one upon a peduncle. (Willd. Sp. PI., iv. p. 1114.) The leaves are invariably toothedwith large pointed teeth. The bracteas are rather longer than the ovary. The lobes of the calyxl&UU are wedge-shaped. The drupe is oblong. (Michaux.) A deciduous

tree, a native of North America ; which Michaux calls the most re-markable species.of its genus for height and diameter; and whichwas introduced into Britain in 1735. It grows chieflyin the southern parts of the United States ; andMichaux observes that it is always found in company Zjwith the long-leaved pine (Pinus palustris ) and the Id.cypress (Taxodium distichum). In South Carolina and OjjGeorgia these trees are constantly found growing with |jthe over-cup oak (Qu^rcus lyxata), the water locust 1(Gleditschfa monosp£rma), the cotton wood (Po- jlpulus canadensis), the Carolinian poplar (Pdpulus ftangulStah and the water bitter-nut hickory (£?&- Itrya aquatica); intermixed with which they composethe dark impenetrable forests which cover the miryswamps on the borders of the rivers, to the distanceof 100 to 200 miles from the ocean. The presence ofthese trees is considered an infallible proof of the depth [ £01

and fertility of the soil, and, consequently, of its fitness, , ‘ The rivers, at their annual overflowing, sometimes cover these marshes

to tne height of 5 ft. or 6 ft., as is shown by the marks left upon the trees by the retiring/‘rfi rs ‘ Vegetation seems only to acquire new energy from these inundations, and the largemPfii 0 S0 . rnGtlI1 ? es attains the height of 70 ft. or 80 ft., with a diameter of 15 in. or 20 in. imme-ih *1 • u? ve f . * ts con i ca l base, and 6 ft. or 7 ft. from the ground. This size continues uniform toe neight of 25 ft. or 30 ft, At the surface the trunk is 8 ft. or 9 ft. thick, (Michx. N. Amer.brnafl 1 ^ 1, F' ^ eaves °f the large tupelo are -commonly 5 in. or 6 in. long, and 2 in. or 3 in.

a ’ ^ut on young and thriving plants they are of twice these dimensions. They are of an ovalnniv n an< * ar ? garnished with two or three large teeth, which are irregularly placed, and generallysmnnth ° n ? s ! ( u e .°^ t ^ ie * ea *- When the leaves unfold in spring, they are downy; but they becomehv sides as they expand. The flowers are numerous though single, and are succeeded

y it ot considerable size, and of a deep blue colour, of which the stone is depressed, and very

for the culture of vine.