Common Name:
Tupelo
Five species of deciduous trees. Leaves alternate, simple, entire or toothed. Flowers inconspicuous, green, 5 petals, 10 stamens. Fruit is an oblong drupe. Native to eastern North America (N. aquatica, N. biflora, N. ogeche, N. sylvatica) and eastern Asia (N. sinensis).
Nyssa: for Nyssa, a water nymph, N. aquatica grows in swamps.
Pronunciation:
NIS-a
Family:
Nyssaceae