Nyssas

Part of speech: noun, plural

Definitions

1. Plural term for deciduous trees of a certain genus found in North America ; goddesses or nymphs from classical mythology associated with specific landscapes
2. Refers collectively to water tupelo or black gum tree species native to the eastern United States ; designates mythological female spirits linked to particular regions in ancient lore
3. Encompasses several arboreal species recognized for their distinctive leaves and swampy habitats ; also applies to nature nymphs or minor deities from Greco-Roman tradition

Etymology: "Nyssas" is the plural of "nyssa," and the two words share a single story. The name belongs to a genus of trees, the tupelos or sour gums, which are found in the swamps of eastern North America and eastern Asia. Their leaves are a common point of recognition, and many grow in wet ground where their roots stand in water for much of the year. The genus took its name from Nyssa, a nymph of Greek myth. In that tradition, the nymphs were minor female divinities tied to particular places, such as springs, groves and mountains, and the name was attached to a tree that stood in the watery woodlands where the stories placed such spirits. The plural form simply counts the trees, or the nymphs, as a group.