Common Name: Nettle Tree

General Information

Celtis australis is a deciduous tree with a rounded crown; it can grow 15 - 20 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 80cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. The wood is tough and used commercially. The plant is also sometimes cultivated locally for its fruit and its wood, whilst both fruit and seed are sometimes sold in local markets in the Balkans. The tree is sometimes planted in reforestation schemes and is often grown as an ornamental and street tree[, , ].
Celtis australis is a widespread species found in Southern Europe, West Asia and North East Africa. Within Europe the population is beginning to decline in urban areas but we do not know if this trend is similar across the species' range. It is also unlikely that the decline will be such that it the species qualifies for a threatened category. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

S. Europe - Portugal and Spain to Romania and Bulgaria, through Turkey and the Caucasus; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia

Habitat

Hedges, banks and sandy places[]. Woods, meadows and on riverbanks and cliffs[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Celtis australis is able to tolerate fairly cold temperatures when dormant, at least down to -15°c, but it requires hot summers in order to fully ripen its wood. In maritime regions, such as western Europe, where summers are generally cool, the plant is much less cold tolerant and is very subject to die-back in the winter[, , ].
Succeeds in any reasonably good soil, preferring a good fertile well-drained loamy soil[, , ]. Succeeds on dry gravels and on sandy, nutrient-poor soils[, ]. The trees have deep spreading roots[] and are very drought resistant once established[, ].
This plant is said to be the lotus fruit of the ancients[]. It is mentioned in the story of Odysseus returning from Troy and the story relates that if a person should eat the fruit they will never leave that area.
The tree coppices well[].
A good shade tree and tolerant of urban pollution, it often used as a street tree in southern Europe[, , ].
Trees can be very long-lived, perhaps to 1,000 years[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, , ]. A mealy pleasant taste[]. Small and insipidly sweet[, ]. Of little value[]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[] with a single large seed[].

Seed - raw or cooked[, , , ].

An oil is obtained from the seed[, ].

Medicinal

The leaves and fruit are astringent, lenitive and stomachic[, ]. The fruit, particularly before it is fully ripe, is considered to be more effective medicinally[].
A decoction of both leaves and fruit is used in the treatment of amenorrhoea, heavy menstrual and intermenstrual bleeding and colic[, ]. The decoction can also be used to astringe the mucous membranes in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and peptic ulcers[].
The leaves are gathered in early summer and dried for later use[].

The following uses were reported for Celtis eriocarpa Decne., which is generally treated as a synonym of Celtis australis that is both naturalized and cultivated in the Himalayas

The bark is ground and mixed to form a powder that is applied topically to tumours, scabies and other skin diseases[].

The seeds are used in the treatment of dysentery[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is often used for afforestation in rocky terrain in order to guard against erosion[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the bark[].

A fatty oil is obtained from the seed[]. No more information is given, but the oil obtained from many species in this genus is used as a lubricant and for making soaps[].

A fibre obtained from the bark can be used for cordage[].

The wood is very tough, pliable, durable[, , ]. A valuable timber, it is widely used by turners[, ], and has in the past been used in construction, furniture making etc[]. It is used to make the handles of agricultural implements[]. The flexible thin shoots are used as walking sticks[].
The wood makes an excellent fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[]. Stored seed is best given 2 - 3 months cold stratification and then sown late winter/early spring in a greenhouse[, ]. Germination rates are usually good, though the stored seed might take 12 months or more to germinate. The seed can be stored for up to 5 years[]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. The leaves of seedlings often have a lot of white patches without chlorophyll, this is normal and older plants produce normal green leaves. Grow the seedlings on in a cold frame for their first winter, and plant them out in the following late spring or early summer[]. Give them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings