Genus Celtis L.

C. occendentalis L.

Common name: Hackberry

Benjamin H. Holland

Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Microbiology
University of Georgia, Athens

Varieties: .( Stevens, H.A. 1973.)

  • C. crassifolia (Lam.) Gray
  • C. pumila (Pursh) Gray
  • Canina (Raf.) Sarg.

    • Other common names:( Stevens, H.A. 1973.)

    Taxonomic arrangement (Gray, A. 1864.):

  • Order:Urticales
  • Family: Ulmaceae
  • Genus: Celtis

    Identification:

    Taxonomy

    "Celtis, a classical latin name for a species of lotus, was applied by Linnaeus to the hacberries; and occidentalis,"western", refers to the western hemisphere."( Grimm, William C. 1967.)

    Description:( Stevens, H.A. 1973.),(Duncan & Duncan, 1988)

    C. occidentalisis a tree that grows to about 25 m high. The mature branches will be found 8-10 m above the ground.
    LEAVES: The leaves of this tree are alternately simple that produce 3 principle veins. The leaves grow ovate to ovate-lanceolate. These average about 5-12 cm long and 3-6 cm wide. The margins are coarsely serrate, having 2-4 teeth per cm. The upper surface is glabrate or scabrous, but the lower surface is paler and pubescent.

    FLOWER: The flowers produced bloom in the months of April and May, appearing staminate in single or groups of 2-3 towards the base of a younger branch. The pedicels are ong, green and glaberous. The calyx has 5-6 lobes that are deeply divided. These lobes are 2-2.5 mm long. They appear as a yellow green with brown tips. There are no petals present in the inflorecense. 5 stamens with 2mm long filaments. The anthers are yellow. The pistilate flowers are axillary and found toward the apex of the same branch. These are found in singles or pairs as well. These flowers possess pedicels that are green and deeply divided with a brown tip.

    Flower of C. occidentalis
    Flower of C. occidentalisCourtesy, Jim Manhart
    FRUIT: The fruit appears in the months of September and October where they remain until the winter months . The pedicels are glaborous and 14-16 mm mm long. This fruit is called a drupe which is globular in shape. The fruit is 8-10 mm in diameter. It can vary from brownish to purple. This fruit contains a sweet pulp that is edible. The seeds it produces are cream colored, 7-8 mm in length, and 6-7 mm in width

    TWIGS: Twigs of this species ore a light grayish brown and flexible. The pith is white and closely chambered. The buds are light brown growing flattend to the twig to about 2-3 mm long.

    TRUNK: The trunk is has dark gray bark that grows thick. The furrows are deep with short ridges. The wood this tree produces is lightweight and soft. This constitutes the weakness found in the light yellow lumber.

    Geography

    C. Occidentalis thrives in rich moist soil, the banks of streams, and rocky hillsides or open pastures. These trees can be found throughout the southeast north to Idaho and throughout the Great Plains. This range extends into New England and eastward into Alabama and Georgia.( Brown, C. and K. Kirman. 1990.)

    Celtis occidentalis L.
    AREA STATUS REFERENCES
    North America:
    Continental United States; Canada    		Yes Duncan & Duncan, 1988
    Eastern North America:
    United States east of Mississippi;
    Ontario and eastern Canada    		YesDuncan & Duncan, 1988
    Southeastern United States:
    AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV    		YesDuncan & Duncan, 1988
    Southern Appalachian States:
    AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV    		WidespreadDuncan & Duncan, 1988
    Coastal PlainMarginal Brown, C. & K. Kirman. 1990.
    PiedmontWidespread Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles & C.R. Bell, 1968.
    Blue Ridge MountainsMarginal Radford, Ahles & Bell, 1968
    Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    		yesRadford, Ahles & Bell, 1968
    Ridge and ValleyYesJones & Coile, 1988
    Cumberland PlateauYes Brown, C. & K. Kirman. 1990.
    Central ArchCommon Brown, C. & K. Kirman. 1990.
    GeorgiaYesJones & Coile, 1988
    Clarke County, GeorgiaYesUGA Herbarium Specimens, Sam's Farm
    Sams FarmCommonBen Holland, Pers. Ob.
    Old Field
    		commonBen Holland, Pers. Ob.
    Wetland
    		?-
    Woods
    		CommonBen Holland, Pers. Ob.
    ?
    		YesBen Holland, Pers. Ob

    Natural History and Supplemental Information:

    C. occidentalis

    As C. occidentalis looses its leaves in the fall, the hackberry tree can be identified by the twisted cluster of twigs growing in its branches. This cluster, often called witch's brooms, is dense and can be compared to mistletoe. But with the leave in full force, the tree is characterized by its grayish-brown trunk. It is a native tree that occurs in the south associated with other hardwoods such as oaks, beech, sweetgum, and ironwood. It is known to have a moderately high growth rate and can survive in most soils reguardless of pH but prefers a highly alkaline composition. This tree is also know to have a long life span. Although this tree is tolerant to many factors such as drought, pollution, and disturbance, its root system competes for nutrients with its counter part C. laevigata. This tree often serves as a pioneer species in dsturbed areas such as cracks in pavement and edges of buildings. Birds feed on the fruit of C. occidentalis.( Odenwald, N. & J. Turner. 1996.)

    Locating C. occidentalis

    C. occidentalis is found commonly in the New England area and on down to Georgia. It is frequently found on rich, moist, soils but can exist easily on a variety of nutrient composition. These trees are often found in the dry upland areas, slopes of rocky hillsides, and outcrops of limestone. ( Odenwald, N. & J. Turner. 1996.)

    References

    1. Brown, C. and K. Kirman. 1990 Trees of Georgia and Adjacent States. Timber Press, INC. Portland, OR.
    2. Cronquist, A. and H. Gleason. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. 2nd Ed. New york Botanical Garden, New York.
    3. Duncan, W.H. & W.B. Duncan. 1988. Trees of the Southeastern United States. THe Uneversity of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.(ISBN 0-8203-0954-0). 322 pages.
    4. Everett, T.H. 1968. Living Trees of the World. Chanticleer Press New York.
    5. Gray, A. 1864. Lessons in Botany. Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman & Co. New York.
    6. Grimm, William C. 1967. Familiar Trees of America. Harper and Row Publishers. New York.
    7. Hardin, J.W. 1992. Foliar Morphology of the Common Trees of North Carolina and Adjacent Sates. Dept. of Botany, North Carolina University. Raleigh, NC.
    8. Jones, S.B. & Coile. 1988. The Georgia Plant List. Dept. of Botany, University of Georgia. Athens. GA.
    9. Milne, L. & M. Milne. 1975. Living Plants fo the World. Chanticleer Press. New York.
    10. Odenwald, N. & J. Turner. 1996. Identification Selection and Use of Southern Plants for Landscape Design. 3rd Ed. Claitor's Publishing Division. Baton Rouge, LA.
    11. Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles & C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. university of North Carolina. Press. Chapel Hill, NC.(ISBN 0-8078-1087-8.)
    12. Stevens, H.A. 1973. Woody Plants of the North Central Plains. University Press fo Kansas. Lawrence, KA.

      13. Internet Access Sources:

    13. Manhart, Jim. Texas A&M University, Dept. of Biology; http://csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/MANHART/homepage.html

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      Last Updated on July 10,1998 Benjamin H. Holland