Hackberry
Northern Hackberry
Genus: Celtis
Species: Celtis occidentalis
Family: Ulmaceae (Elm Family)
French Name: Micocoulier occidental

Native Range: Native to parts of North America; sparsely distributed in Ontario and Quebec; also found in the south end of Lake Manitoba.

Habitat: Grows on a variety of soils and is moderately shade-tolerant.

Global Range: About 60 species of Celtis are found worldwide, with 6 species native to North America and 2 in Canada.

Size & Growth
Typical Height: Small trees, typically up to 15 meters high.
Maximum Recorded Height: Up to 20 meters in some cases.
Maximum Diameter: 50 cm in diameter.
Maximum Age: 150 years.
Growth Rate: Moderate to slow.
Form: Crown is broad, with ascending, arching branches that droop at the tips.

Leaf Characteristics
Leaf Type: Deciduous, alternate, simple.
Shape: Variable, but typically 6-9 cm long, widest toward the asymmetrical base with a long tapering tip.
Color: Deep bluish-green on the upper surface, paler and hairy on the veins beneath. Turns yellow in autumn.
Leaf Stipules: Short-stalked.
Venation: 4 or 5 veins on each side of the leaf with 15-40 teeth.
Vein Angle: Lowest pair of veins originate at an acute angle just below the base of the blade.

Buds
Shape: Ovoid, 6-8 mm long, flattened and pointed.
Position: Buds are arranged in 2 rows along the twig.
Scales: 5 or more scales in 2 rows.
Terminal Bud: Lacks a true terminal bud; the end bud originates as a lateral bud, often bent.
Leaf Scar: Raised, semi-oval, with 3 visible vein scars.

Twigs
Shape: Slender, green when young, becoming tinged with brown.
Texture: Covered with fine hairs.
Pith: Has cavities separated by transverse partitions, particularly at the leaf nodes.

Flowers
Size: Small and greenish.
Flower Arrangement: Pollen flowers and seed flowers are on the same tree.
Pollen Flowers: Small clusters at the base of the new shoot.
Seed Flowers: Single flowers in the axils of the new leaves.
Pollination: Wind-pollinated.

Fruits
Type: Berry-like drupe with a pitted stone.
Size: 6-8 mm across.
Color: Reddish-purple when ripe.
Placement: Solitary on slender stalks, persisting on the tree through winter.
Edibility: Edible, although not commonly eaten.
Dispersal: Dispersed by fruit-eating birds and mammals.
Seed Crop: Abundant in most years.

Vegetative Reproduction
Method: By stump sprouts, allowing the tree to regenerate from the base.

Bark
Color: Gray to light yellowish-brown.
Texture: Bark is characterized by irregular narrow ridges with distinctive wart-like projections.
Cross-Section: Stratified layers visible in cross-section.

Wood
Texture: Heavy, coarse-textured, hard, but weak.
Color: Brown streaked with yellow.
Grain: Attractive grain-pattern visible on tangential surfaces.
Porosity: Ring-porous, with pores, rays, and annual rings easily visible.

Ecological Role & Interactions
Wildlife Value: The fruits are edible and consumed by various birds and mammals, which also help disperse the seeds.
Habitat: Often found in woodlands, on riverbanks, and in areas with varied soil types.
Companion Species: Often grows alongside species such as oaks, maples, and willows.
Pollination: Pollinated by wind, with some reliance on insects for the seed flowers.

Human & Cultural Uses
Wood Uses: The wood is used in crafting, though it is not a major timber species due to its relatively weak properties.
Ecological Significance: Important for maintaining biodiversity in areas where it is found, especially due to its tolerance for a range of growing conditions.