Nyssa sylvatica aka Black Tupelo

Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as tupelo, black tupelo, black gum, or sour gum, is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can be found in eastern North America, southern Ontario, and Mexico. It grows up to 35 meters tall, with a straight trunk and branches extending outward at right angles. The bark is dark gray and flaky when young, but becomes furrowed and resembling alligator hide on old stems. The leaves are variable in size and shape, with lustrous upper surfaces and wavy margins. They turn purple in autumn, eventually becoming a bright scarlet. The flowers are small and greenish-white, in clusters at the top of a long stalk, and a rich source of nectar for bees. The Blackgum tree is found in dry upland forests, savannas, swamp margins, upland depressions, and in the hills and mountains on dry slopes with oaks and hickories. It has a polygamodioecious flowering habit, and the nectar from its flowers is highly prized for making Tupelo honey. However, deer are fond of the leaves on seedlings and saplings, which can make establishment of the tree almost impossible in large populations.