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Nyssa

Family

Nyssaceae

Common names

Tupelo

A genus of about ten species in eastern N. America, N. Mexico, the Himalaya, and western Malaysia, of which only N. sylvatica is commonly grown in the British Isles. Leaves alternate, without stipules. Flowers small, unisexual, both sexes often occurring on the same tree. Male flowers numerous, in slender-stalked heads or racemes, females in fewer-flowered clusters, or solitary. Fruit a drupe, with a one-seeded stone. The family Nyssaceae is allied to the Cornaceae, in which Nyssa was once placed.

Propagation is by seeds or by layers. The nyssas transplant badly and should be given a permanent place as early as possible.

Species articles