Hackberry
Encyclopedia : H : HA : HAC : Hackberry
Hackberry Celtis is a genus of about 60-70 species of deciduous trees widespread in warm temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, in southern Europe, southern and eastern Asia, and southern and central North America, and south to central Africa. They are generally medium-sized trees, reaching 10-25 m tall, rarely up to 40 m tall.
Previously included either in the elm family Ulmaceae or their own family the Celtidaceae, genetic analysis by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group has shown they are best placed in the hemp family Cannabaceae.
The leaves are alternate, simple, 3-15 cm long, ovate-acuminate with a long pointed tip, and evenly serrated margins.
The fruit is a small drupe 6-10 mm diameter, edible in many species, with a dryish but sweet, sugary consistency, reminiscent of a date.
Several species are grown as ornamental trees, valued for their drought tolerance.
- Selected species
- Celtis australis – European Hackberry
- Celtis bungeana – Bunge's Hackberry
- Celtis caucasica – Caucasian Hackberry
- Celtis integrifolia – African Hackberry
- Celtis jessoensis – Japanese Hackberry
- Celtis koraiensis – Korean Hackberry
- Celtis labilis – Hubei Hackberry
- Celtis laevigata – Southern Hackberry or Sugar Hackberry or Sugarberry
- Celtis occidentalis – Common Hackberry
- Celtis reticulata – Netleaf Hackberry
- Celtis sinensis – Chinese Hackberry
- Celtis tenuifolia – Georgia Hackberry
- Celtis tournefortii – Oriental Hackberry
External links
- [Celtis laevigata images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
- [Celtis occidentalis images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
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