Celtis paniculata

Celtis paniculata
Celtis paniculata juvenile
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Rosales
Family:Cannabaceae
Genus:Celtis
Species: C. paniculata
Binomial name
Celtis paniculata
Synonyms
  • Solenostigma paniculatum Endl.

Celtis paniculata, is a coastal rainforest tree. In Australia it occurs from Kiama (34° S) in New South Wales to the Endeavour River (15° S) in tropical Queensland. It also grows at Norfolk Island, eastern Malesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. In Australia it is commonly known as native celtis, silky celtis, native hackberry, or investigator tree.

It is a food tree for the blue beak, common aeroplane, tailed emperor and other butterflies.[1]

Description

The tree grown to 40 metres tall and 90 cm in width. The trunk is mostly cylindrical and somewhat buttressed at the base. The bark is thin, brown and smooth, with pustular vertical lines.

Leaves

See leaf shape in this CSIRO sample. More mature leaves sometimes have this shape toothed to crenate. Leaves are alternate and simple, smooth, not toothed 6 to 10 cm long with a pointed tip. The leaf stalk is somewhat channelled and flattened on the top, and 6 to 10 mm in length. Both sides of the leaf are a dull green. With a hand lens, translucent glands may be seen in the leaves.

The base of the leaf is often oblique, that is of being of unequal length on either side of the leaf stem. Leaf venation is more evident under the leaf. An identifying feature is the intramarginal leaf vein, which starts at the leaf base and travels on either edge of the leaf. Of a distance of a quarter to a half of the length of the leaf.

Flowers and fruit

Green flowers in cymes appear from December to January. The fruit is a round shaped drupe, 8 to 10 mm long containing a single seed.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/ARTHROPODA/hosts
  • Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 1989, ISBN 0-909605-57-2 page 400
  • Celtis paniculata at NSW Flora Online Retrieved on 2009-08-04
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