Nyssa sylvatica black tupelo

Nyssa sylvatica in fall color, behind Building 70. Sairus Patel, 1 Oct 2018

Nyssa sylvatica beginning to turn, Building 70. Sairus Patel, 1 Oct 2018

Among the earliest of our trees to turn, in October look for the distinctive patchwork of scarlet and orange leaves emerging from the green on this medium-sized deciduous tree. Its elliptic leaves are often broader towards the upper half, glossy above and paler beneath; indeed, the undersides barely change while the upper surfaces flame. Indigenous peoples ate the small, dark blue, plum-like fruits, about ½ inch long. The outstretched branches and pyramidal shape of younger tupelos resemble the pin oak.

Tupelo comes from the Creek for swamp tree. Moist associations continue in the genus name: the infant Dionysus was cared for on Mount Nysa by the Nysiads, water nymphs led by Nysa – mountain and nymphs alike named from the latter part of the god’s own name. Sylvatica means “of the woods.” Pepperidge and sour gum are other names for the tree.

A trio of tupelos stands in the Outer Quad, south of Building 70. Two are south of 471 South Service Road. Cultivar ‘Wildfire’ appears at Computing and Data Science: two in the sunken courtyard south of the building, one to the north. In Palo Alto, tupelos line Churchill Avenue and Waverley Street as the street tree of Gamble Garden.

Nyssa sylvatica leaves. John Rawlings, ca. 2005

Name derivation: see text above.