Gum bully facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gum bully |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sideroxylon
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| Species: |
lanuginosum
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The Gum bully (Sideroxylon lanuginosum) is a cool shrub or small tree. It belongs to a plant family called Sapotaceae, which includes many trees and shrubs. You can find it growing naturally in parts of the United States and northeastern Mexico.
This plant has many interesting nicknames! People also call it black haw, chittamwood, gum bumelia, wooly bumelia, and ironwood, just to name a few.
Contents
About the Gum Bully Tree
The Gum bully is a plant that can grow as a small tree or a bush. It is known for its strong wood and sometimes for the sticky sap it produces.
Where the Gum Bully Grows
This plant is native to the southern and central parts of the United States. It also grows in northeastern Mexico. It thrives in areas with warm weather, like the region often called the Sun Belt.
Uses and History
The fruit of the Gum bully is edible, meaning you can eat it! However, if you eat too many, they might cause a stomach ache or make you feel a little dizzy.
Long ago, Native American tribes like the Kiowa and Comanche would eat these fruits. They waited until the fruits were fully ripe before enjoying them.
Sometimes, children would chew the gum that comes from the trunk of the tree. It's a natural type of chewing gum!
Different Types of Gum Bully
Just like there are different breeds of dogs, there are also different types, or subspecies, of the Gum bully. These types are slightly different from each other. Scientists give them special names to tell them apart.
