Phytophthora pseudosyringae composed only of cellulose and glucans. Its name derives from Greek "Phytophthora" (), “plant” and (), “destruction”; “the plant-destroyer” and "plurivora" and from Latin ( = many, - = feeding). Phytophthora pseudosyringae Phytophthora pseudosyringae is a semi-papillate homothallic soil-borne plant pathogen causing root and collar rot of deciduous tree species in Europe. It is associated with necrotic fine roots and stem necroses of "Fagus sylvatica" and "Alnus glutinosa", and isolates are moderately aggressive to fine roots of oaks and beech ("Nothofagus"), highly aggressive to holly leaves and apple fruits, and slightly pathogenic to alder bark. It belongs to the class
Nyssa sylvatica in the Northeast is "pepperidge." On Martha's Vineyard, in Massachusetts, this species is called "beetlebung", perhaps for its use in making the mallet known as a beetle, used for hammering bungs (stoppers) into barrels. "Nyssa sylvatica" grows to tall, rarely to , with a trunk diameter of , rarely up to . These trees typically have a straight trunk with the branches extending outward at right angles. The bark is dark gray and flaky when young, but it becomes furrowed with age, resembling alligator hide on very old stems. The twigs of this tree are reddish-brown, usually hidden by a