Nyssa aquatica L.

Trees, (6–)10–30 m, <base buttressed, proximal limbs spreading to slightly drooping>, crown irregular; bark irregularly fissured; twigs puberulent; <pith white>. Leaves: petiole 30–60 mm; blade elliptic to ovate, 8–11(–18) × (2.5–)3.5–5.5(–7.3) cm, herbaceous, base cuneate to rounded, margins entire proximally and usually coarsely dentate distally, apex usually acute, rarely acuminate, often mucronulate, abaxial surface glabrous or puberulent especially along veins, adaxial surface glabrous or sparsely hairy. Inflorescences: peduncle 1–1.5 cm (elongating to 3 cm in fruit), glabrous; staminate (1–)2–5-flowered, pistillate and bisexual 1–2-flowered. Staminate pedicels absent. Flowers: ovary densely hairy. Drupes black to blue or reddish purple, glaucous, oblong, 24–27 mm, punctate; stone 15–20 mm, roughened, often longitudinally ridged.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in swamps and on flood plains. It can stand considerable flooding. It grows up to 150 m altitude in the south of USA. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Arboretum Tasmania.

The fruit are sometimes eaten raw. They are usually made into preserves.

Plants can be grown from seeds, cuttings or air-layering.