Black Tupelo (black gum)

Black tupelo is important to wildlife. Fruit and young sprouts are eaten, and the tree is the home to many cavity-nesting species. Black gum is polygamo-dioecious, which means that it sometimes bears fruit on separate male and female trees.  Fruit ripens in September and October and drops in November.  The forest tent caterpillar, which actually does not produce a tent, feeds on the leaves of black tupelo.