Tree identification help

[BSK]

Anyone know of a tree that produces little tiny purple berries, other than a hackberry? I found a tree that is covered with little tiny purple berries that all appear to be at the ends of twigs, lots of single berries (not in clusters), and the berries are about the size of a pea and have a sweet smell like muscadines. This is a mature tree probably 50 feet tall. Bark does not look like a hackberry. Bark is deeply grooved with long vertical ridges. The tree is growing on a high ridge-top.

 

[Rick Dillard]

BSK,
The tree that you describe sounds like a black gum or black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica).

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

Sounds like black gun.

 

[@fulldraw]

It's hard to say without pics. Can you take a pic of the bark and buds? If so, I can tell you exactly what it is.

 

[Doskil]

I'd guess a tupelo, black gum

 

[southernhunter]

How do u guys know so much about trees? My dad was a logger he could name about any kinda tree found in the woods of middle TN , but y'all get down to the Scientific names .

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I would guess Black Gum, I have tons of them on one of my places. The fruits of black gum are drupes.

 

[BSK]

Dang, you all are good! I looked it up and sure enough it is a tupelo or black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). First one I've seen in my area. The smell of the fruit caught my attention as I was walking by, and then I noticed all the berries on the ground.

 

[southernhunter]

Do the deer eat them ?

 

[BSK]

Do the deer eat them ?

Good question. I don't know. The berries sure smell good.

 

[Chaneylake]

Do the deer eat them ?

Good question. I don't know. The berries sure smell good.

squirrels will heavily eat them in a low mast year, have never seen deer eat them, migrating black birds or starlings will usually wipe out most of them

 

[BSK]

migrating black birds or starlings will usually wipe out most of them

I bet that's the truth! Dang I hate those big noisy flocks of starlings!

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I have seen turkey eating them and even roosting in them and eating them while roosted but havent witnessed deer use.

 

[BSK]

Very interesting smstone22. I'll remember that.

Now that I know they are native to the entire eastern U.S., I'll be looking for them. Funny that I've never seen a balck gum tree before. Must not be common on rocky ridges.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Im sure its different in different areas but all of mine are just under the crest of a ridge at about 1900 feet elevation. They are in a sandy soil layer that has aquatic fossils in it. They are also in patches, and can be easily picked out in aerial images taken in the Fall because the leaves tend to be more reddish.

 

[Rick Dillard]

Black gum fruit are a favorite of fox squirrels. In the early fall if you find a tree dropping fruit there will usually be fox squirrels nearby. Black gum tree leaves are one of the first to start changing color in the fall. I have seen their leaves starting to turn red as early as late-August.

 

[BSK]

Im sure its different in different areas but all of mine are just under the crest of a ridge at about 1900 feet elevation. They are in a sandy soil layer that has aquatic fossils in it. They are also in patches, and can be easily picked out in aerial images taken in the Fall because the leaves tend to be more reddish.

Truly fascinating. I wonder what it is about that soil layer?

 

[BSK]

Black gum fruit are a favorite of fox squirrels. In the early fall if you find a tree dropping fruit there will usually be fox squirrels nearby.

Very interesting.

Black gum tree leaves are one of the first to start changing color in the fall. I have seen their leaves starting to turn red as early as late-August.

I'm going to try and remember to look for that next year.

 

[Bayou Buck]

Funny that I've never seen a balck gum tree before. Must not be common on rocky ridges.

My place in Perry Co is full of them.

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

More info on the black gum tree.

http://www.qdma.com/articles/know-your- ... s-blackgum

 

[southernhunter]

I was told this weekend that ,mistletoe grows in them . Is this correct ?

 

[timberjack86]

I was told this weekend that ,mistletoe grows in them . Is this correct ?

I dont know.I know it grows well in hickory and ash.

 

[southernhunter]

i was told it only grew in gum trees .. guess i learned something . thanks

 

[Locksley]

How do u guys know so much about trees? My dad was a logger he could name about any kinda tree found in the woods of middle TN , but y'all get down to the Scientific names .

Black gum fruit are a favorite of fox squirrels. In the early fall if you find a tree dropping fruit there will usually be fox squirrels nearby.

Very interesting.

Black gum tree leaves are one of the first to start changing color in the fall. I have seen their leaves starting to turn red as early as late-August.

I'm going to try and remember to look for that next year.

Well southernhunter back in the days of our youth there were few deer in TN but there have always been lots of hungry squirrels and squirrel hunters here in TN and when we got older we went to school and universities and tried to learn all we could about our great old state and its trees. We white boys could be smart back in the day and back then we were not called nerds and other derogatory names that some call all white boys in our schools today to discourage there learning the knowledge needed to keep our sport and country great.

 

[BigAl]

I have the same tree right next to one of my deer stands and wondered what type it was. I was hoping someone would say that deer loved them! Oh well, maybe the whiteoak tree next to it will entice them. This tree is on the edge of a field.

BSK, is this the same berry? I took this pic a few days ago: