What legend gave the swamp tupelo its name?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

October 5, 2001

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The swamp tupelos or black gums (Nyssa spp.) were named for the Nyseides, sister nymphs who lived on a mountain within a swamp. These sisters were also called the Hyades or "the rainy".

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Bacchus Delivered to the Nymphs of Nysa Framed Art Print Jacques Francois Courtin Buy Framed Art Print at AllPosters.com

Bacchus (Dionysus) was the son of the god, Zeus, and the mortal, Semele. Hera, always the jealous wife of Zeus, tricked the pregnant Semele into viewing Zeus as he appeared with thunder and lightning. Semele was burned by the lightning and gave birth to Bacchus as she collapsed into ashes. Zeus realized Hera was up to her tricks and that his infant son was in mortal danger. Zeus lifted Bacchus from his mother's ashes and carried him to the Nyseides. The sisters hid Bacchus and raised him to take his place among the gods.

In later years, the Nyseides, grieving when their brother was killed, no longer desired immortality. Together they committed suicide. But Zeus owed the sisters a debt. They should have been immortal, so Zeus set them in the heavens. The sisters form the "V" (the Hyades) in the constellation Taurus.

To view a photograph of the spectacular Hyades cluster, click the link:

http://www.lightandmatter.com/binosky/hy.html

The Department of Botany of Iowa State University at Ames Iowa has beautiful photographs of Nyssa. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://project.bio.iastate.edu/trees/campustrees/NyssaSyl/Nyssa_flowers.html

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