Blackgum or black tupelo is oftentimes (but not always) associated with wet areas as is suggested by its latin genus name Nyssa, the name for a Greek mythological water sprite. The Creek Indian word for "swamp tree" is eto opelwu. Southern bee-keepers prize the tree's nectar and sell tupelo honey for a premium. The tree is showy in fall with brilliant red leaves ornamented with blue fruit on female trees.
Black tupelo grows from southwestern Maine to southern Florida and west past the Mississippi River. Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica var. sylvatica) is also widely known as blackgum, sourgum, pepperidge, tupelo, and tupelogum. Read more about: Black Tupelo
