Celtis tenuifolia

dwarf species

Cannabaceae › Celtis

The dwarf hackberry or Georgia hackberry is in the cannabis or Cannabaceae family and is native to eastern North America but is very uncommon north of the Ohio River.

  • Leaves are deciduous, simple, alternate, 5–7 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide, uneven at the base, shallowly toothed, and finely hairy.
  • Winter buds are brown and hairy, similar to those of other hackberries, but smaller, only 1–2 mm long; terminal buds are absent.
  • Flowers are monecious and unisexual, occurring either solitarily or in small clusters; the species is wind-pollinated and appears to be self-compatible.
  • Fruit is a berry-like drupe, 5–8 mm in diameter, consisting of a single stone encased within a thin, sweet mesocarp; from green, it becomes a light orange, then a dark red, then purplish-brown.

Contributors

  • Paco Garin
  • Philippe de Spoelberch