Common Name: Caucasian Hackberry

General Information

Celtis caucasica is a deciduous tree with a much-branched crown; it can grow up to 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.
Celtis caucasica is a widespread species with a large extent of occurrence. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2007)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southeast Europe - Serbia, Bulgaria; W. Asia - Turkey, Caucasus to Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India and Nepal

Habitat

Dry stony bluffs, rocks, ravines etc and occasionally as undergrowth in clearings[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Celtis caucasica 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 can be subject to die-back in the winter[, , ]. This subspecies has proved to be more winter-hardy in southern England than the species[, ].
Succeeds in any reasonably good soil, preferring a good fertile well-drained loamy soil[, , ]. Succeeds on dry gravels and on sandy soils[]. Established plants are very drought resistant[, ].
Trees can be very long-lived, perhaps to 1,000 years[].
The tree coppices well[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. A mealy pleasant taste[]. The yellow, globose fruit is about 4 - 8mm in diamete containing a single, large seed. The fruit has a thin, dry, sweet flesh with a pleasant flavour but a slight astringency[]. The trees often produce large crops of fruit in Britain, but there is so little that is edible on each fruit that it is scarcely worthwhile[].

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[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is exceptionally modest as regards water requirements and may be employed in mountain reforestation projects, especially for the consolidation of mountain slopes and screes[]..

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, elastic, durable[, , , 146 158]. Of high quality, it is widely used by turners[, , ]. It is used to make the handles of agricultural implements[].
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