About Nyssa aquatica L.
Nyssa aquatica L., commonly known as water tupelo, cottongum, wild olive, large tupelo, tupelo-gum, or water-gum, is a large, long-lived tree species in the tupelo genus Nyssa. It grows in swamps and floodplains across the Southeastern United States. The trunks of Nyssa aquatica have a swollen base that tapers upward into a long, clear bole, and its root system is regularly submerged in water. Water tupelo trees frequently grow in pure stands. A large mature Nyssa aquatica can produce commercial timber that is used to make furniture and crates. The species' swollen base provides wood that is particularly favored by wood carvers. Many types of wildlife feed on the tree's fruit, and Nyssa aquatica is a popular tree for honey production. The current world record water tupelo grows in White County, Arkansas. It is listed in the National Forests Champion Trees Official Register, with a trunk circumference of 451 inches, a height of 125 feet, and a crown spread of 92.5 feet.
