Celtis L. (1753), the hackberry or sugarberry, contains around 100 species mainly in the tropics, in the family Ulmaceae. Description Trees to 30m, or shrubs.The leaves are alternate, usually deciduous, sometimes toothed, with 3 main veins, asymmetric at the base, usually with a slender, curved point. The flowers are small, borne on the leafy twigs of the current year’s growth, and appearing with the leaves, usually in late winter to spring. They are mostly unisexual, with males and females on the same branches, the males in groups, the females usually solitary. Sepals 4 or 5; petals absent. Stamens 4 or 5. Carpel 1, with a deeply 2- or 4-lobed style; the female flowers sometimes with staminodes. Pollination is by wind. The fruits are 1-seeded, fleshy, yellow, orange, red, or black when ripe, solitary in the leaf axils on long, slender stalks. Key Recognition Features The long-pointed, 3-veined leaves, and the small, 1-seeded fruit on long, slender stalks. Evolution and Relationships Closely related to Celtis are Apananthe and Trema Lour., the nettle tree, from Florida, South and Central America, Africa, and Asia; it has mostly unisexual flowers and fruit in clusters of 12–20 in the leaf axils. Ecology and Geography In rocky woods, by rivers and along streams, though most species are tolerant of drought. Six species are found wild in North America, 4 in Europe, and around 15 in China and Japan; 3 species extend into northern Australia. Comment Celtis australis L. is the lotus tree of Homer, with fruit so delicious that it made those who ate it, the lotofagi, forget their longing to return home. Its fruit are sweet and remain on the tree until spring. The tree is often planted in towns and villages in southern France. The timber is smooth and hard. |
