Celtis occidentalis
American Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
The American hackberry or western hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a medium sized deciduous tree of the genus nettle trees in the hemp family ( Cannabaceae ). The genus is often also associated with the family of the elm family ( Ulmaceae ). The distribution area is located in eastern Canada and the United States.
Description
The American hackberry is up to 25 meters tall tree with broad, irregular crown and slightly overhanging branches. The bark is gray and deeply furrowed and tuberculate in old age. The wood is light yellow. The branches have no thorns, the shoots are more or less hairy. The leaves have a 0.5 to 1.2 mm long stalk. The leaf blade is 5-12 cm long and 3-6, rarely up to 9 inches wide, lanceolate - ovate to broadly ovate, shortly acuminate with slate, rounded to wedge-shaped base and up to the base sharp serrated leaf edge. The upper leaf surface is glossy green and smooth, the bottom bit brighter and bald. The autumn color is golden yellow. The sweet -tasting fruits grow to about 2 inches long stalks. You are almost spherical, 7 to 11, rarely up to 20 millimeters in size, orange to dark purple. The crème färbige stone core is pitted, 7-9 mm long and 5-8 mm wide.
Distribution and ecology
The natural range extends from Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba in Canada on the east and the center to Texas in the American South. In Australia, the species has been naturalized. It grows in biodiversity-rich forests up to 1800 meters height on moderately dry to moderately moist, slightly acidic to alkaline, nutrient-rich soils in full sun to light shade locations. The species is thermophilic and usually frost hardy, she avoids sandy and clayey soils but is very tolerant of urban climates.
The species often grows in the company of the American Elm (Ulmus americana), the red ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica ), silver maple ( Acer saccharinum ), and various species of oak (Quercus ).
System
The American Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis ) is a species of the genus nettle trees (Celtis ). The genus is assigned to either of the hemp family ( Cannabaceae ), or the elm family Cucurbitaceae ( Ulmaceae ). It was first described scientifically in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum.
In addition to the variety occidentalis Celtis occidentalis var cordata the variety still is discriminated, the hairy branches, firm, oblong- ovate leaves with heart- shaped base, rough leaf surface and hand hairy leaf veins has. Its distribution area is south of the United States.
Use
The American hackberry is the most important of the North American forestry Zürgelbaumarten. He is also frequently used because of its tolerance to drought as a street tree. He is popular in city parks in Europe, because it is harder than the winter occurring in Europe Southern Hackberry (Celtis australis). In his home decoctions were used from the bark of the indigenous peoples medically as a remedy for menstrual and neck pain.