Hackberry
For the tractor by CLAAS, see Claas Celtis
Species
Some 60-70, see text
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. The genus is present in the fossil record at least since the Miocene of Europe.
Previously included either in the elm family (Ulmaceae) or a separate family Celtidaceae, they are placed in the hemp family (Cannabaceae) in the APG II system.
Description
They are generally medium-sized trees, reaching 10-25 m tall, rarely up to 40 m tall.
The leaves are alternate, simple, 3-15 cm long, ovate-acuminate, and evenly serrated margins.
Small monoecious flowers appear in early spring while the leaves are still developing. Female flowers are greenish and more rounded.
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.
Uses and ecology
Several species are grown as ornamental trees, valued for their drought tolerance.
They are a regular feature of arboretums and botanical gardens, particularly in North America. japonica) in Daegu-myeon is one of the natural monuments of South Korea.
brasiliensis, are honey plants and pollen source for honeybees of lesser importance.
The berries, as mentioned above, are often eaten locally. sinensis.
Celtis species are used as foodplants by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera.
These include mainly brush-footed butterflies, most importantly the distinct genus Libythea (beak butterflies) and some Apaturinae (emperor butterflies):
Common Beak (Libythea lepita) caterpillars like to feed on Celtis
Acytolepis puspa (Common Hedge Blue) – recorded on Chinese Hackberry (C. laevigata)
Asterocampa celtis (Hackberry Butterfly, Hackberry Emperor)
A putative new taxon of the Two-barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator) cryptic species complex, provisionally called "CELT", has hitherto only been found on Celtis iguanaea.
Libythea celtis (European Beak)
Libythea lepita (Common Beak)
Libythea myrrha (Club Beak) – recorded on C.
tetranda
Nymphalis xanthomelas (Scarce Tortoiseshell) – recorded on European Hackberry (C. japonica)
The plant pathogenic basidiomycete fungus Perenniporia celtis was first described from a Celtis hostplant.
Some species of Celtis are threatened by habitat destruction.
Selected species
Celtis aetnensis with mature fruit
Caucasian Hackberry (Celtis caucasica) with immature fruit
African Hackberry (Celtis integrifolia)
Celtis aetnensis
Celtis africana Burm.f. – White Stinkwood
Celtis australis – European Hackberry, European Nettle Tree, Lote tree
Celtis balansae
Celtis brasiliensis Planch.
Celtis bungeana – Bunge's Hackberry
Celtis caucasica – Caucasian Hackberry
Celtis cinnamonea
Celtis durandii Engl.
gomphophylla Bak.)
Celtis ehrenbergiana
Celtis glabrata
Celtis hypoleuca
Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Planch.
Celtis integrifolia – African Hackberry
Celtis japonica – Pseudo-hackberry, Nakai or Paeng-na-mu (Korea) - sometimes considered a variety of C.