A North American tree with dark wood that produces a dark resinous substance, also called tupelo or sour gum.
Compound of 'black' and 'gum,' named descriptively for the dark color of its wood and the gummy resin it produces. The word reflects practical early American naming of native trees.
The blackgum's wood is so dark and tough that it was historically used to make bowling pins and tool handles—nature's own pre-made industrial material! Its resilience to rot made it invaluable before modern materials, and it's still prized by woodworkers today.
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