Tupelo Facts
Tupelo Facts
|
| Interesting Tupelo Facts: |
|---|
| Tupelo can reach 30 to 100 feet in height and up to 4 feet in diameter (trunk), depending on the species. Crown can be flat or pyramidal-shaped, made of horizontal and hanging branches. |
| Tupelo has thin, dark brown or gray bark. Old trees are covered with deeply furrowed bark which looks like alligator's hide. Thin bark does not provide protection against wildfire. |
| Certain types of tupelo, such as water tupelo, have shallow root system filled with numerous intercellular spaces (which are essential for the proper aeration) due to life in flooded areas. |
| Tupelo has large, broad, ovate leaves with pointed tips and roundish bases. Leaves are smooth, dark green and glossy on the upper surface. They change color into yellow, orange, red or scarlet during the autumn. Leaves have thick, hairy petioles. They are alternately arranged on the branches. |
| Tupelo produces small, greenish-white flowers. It belongs to the group of dioecious plants, which mean that each tree produces either male or female flowers. Female flowers grow from the axils of leaves. They are solitary and born on top of the long flowering stalks. Male flowers are arranged in the form of spherical clusters. |
| Tupelo blooms during the spring. Flowers are rich source of nectar which attracts bees, main pollinators of this plant. |
| Fruit of tupelo is oblong, bluish black or purple, berry-like drupe filled with one seed. Fruit ripens during September and October. |
| Fruit of tupelo is important source of food for birds, squirrels, raccoons and deer. |
| Flowers of Ogeechee tupelo are source of nectar that is used for the manufacture of tupelo honey. This honey is especially popular and often produced in Florida. Ogeechee tupelo also produces edible fruit. |
| Scientific name of tupelo is "Nyssa". Tree is named after Greek water nymph Nysseides. |
| Name "tupelo" means "tree of the swamp" in the language of Seminole (Native Americans from Florida). |
| Woody fibers from the brittle twigs of tupelo were used for cleaning of teeth in the past. |
| Hollow tupelo trees were used as beehives in the past. |
| Tupelo has pale yellow or light brown, strong wood that is used for the manufacture of broom handles, boxes, floorings, veneers, plywood and carving. Wood is also used for the manufacture of paper. |
| Tupelo can survive more than 1.000 years in the wild. |
|
Related Links: Facts Plants Facts Animals Facts |