Bumelia lanuginosa - Flowering Tree - Black Haw, Chittamwood, Gum Bully, Gum Bumelia, Woolly Buckthorn, Woolly Bumelia Page

Bumelia lanuginosa, also known as Black Haw, Chittamwood, Gum Bully, Gum Bumelia, Woolly Buckthorn, and Woolly Bumelia, is a narrow-crowned, spiny, deciduous tree that can grow up to 45 feet tall. The tree is native to the southeastern United States and northern Mexico and can be found in dry or open rocky woods and glades in the southern half of Missouri, south of the Missouri River. The oblong-obovate leaves are soft-hairy underneath and persist late into fall before turning an unexceptional yellow-green, while clusters of tiny white flowers appear in the leaf axils in early summer. The tree is related to the tropical sapodilla tree, which is used as a source of chicle for chewing gum. Bumelia lanuginosa also exudes a milky sap when cut. Overall, this tree is a beautiful addition to any landscape, featuring thorns reminiscent of osage-orange and abundant, shiny black fruits in the fall.