Native Plant Database

Lytle, Melody

Sideroxylon lanuginosum Michx.

Gum bumelia, Gum bully, Woollybucket bumelia, Chittamwood, Gum elastic, Coma

Sapotaceae (Sapodilla Family)

Gum bumelia is a multi-trunked tall shrub or medium-sized tree to 48 feet tall or more. The stems and branches are spiny, especially on the ends of smaller branchlets.

Image Gallery:

14 photo(s) available

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub , Tree
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Ovate
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Texture: Leathery
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Leaf: Bright shiny dark green above, paler and fuzzy white below, clustered or whorled on lateral spur shoots.
Flower:
Fruit: Blue to black berries, oval in shape, edible, ripen in the fall.
Size Class: 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: Flowers are in small clusters, sweet, fragrant, open in mid-summer.

Distribution

USA: AL , AZ , AR , FL , GA , IL , KS , KY , LA , MS , MO , NM , OK , SC , TX
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low , Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry

Benefit

Use Wildlife: The fruit is eaten by birds, and white-tailed deer browse the leaves and fruit. The flowers provide early season nourishment for honey bees.
Use Other: The Kiowa Indians used a substance in the outer bark as chewing gum.
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: No

Last Update: 2011-09-17