Bear or Apalachicola tupelo Bear or Apalachicola tupelo

Nyssa biflora Walter var. ursina (Small) D. B. Ward; N. sylvatica Marshall var. ursina (Small) J. Wen & Stuessy

Shrubs or trees, 2–5 m, crown typically intricately branched; bark irregularly fissured; twigs usually glabrous, rarely puberulent. Leaves: petiole (4–)5–9 mm; blade narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, rarely to ovate, 3–7 × 1–2 cm, coriaceous, base cuneate to rounded, margins entire, apex obtuse, abaxial surface glabrous or puberulent (primarily along veins), adaxial surface glabrous. Inflorescences: peduncle 3.2–5.5 cm, sparsely hairy or glabrous; staminate (1–)2–5-flowered, pistillate and bisexual 1–2-flowered. Staminate pedicels present. Flowers: ovary glabrous. Drupes usually black, rarely blue, glaucous, globose, 7–11 mm, smooth; stone 6–8 mm, with several low, rounded longitudinal ridges.

Flowering spring. Open savannas, depressions in flatwoods; of conservation concern; 0–70 m; Fla.

Nyssa ursina is limited to six counties in the panhandle region of Florida. It occurs together with N. biflora throughout its limited range, which supports recognizing it as a distinct species.