Common Name: Palo Blanco

General Information

Celtis lindheimeri is a deciduous tree with a much-branched, spreading crown; it can grow up to 12 metres tall with a bole up to 150cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.
The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(1998)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern N. America - Texas and northern Mexico.

Habitat

Rich bottom lands and on low adjacent hills of streams in Texas[]. Ravines and brushlands; at elevations from 100 - 200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have no specific information for this species, but Celtis species generally prefer hotter summers and more sunlight than are normally experienced in maritime regions of the temperate zone. In areas with cooler summers the plants often do not fully ripen their wood and are then very subject to die-back in the winter[, , ].
Species in this genus generally prefer a sunny position, succeeding in any reasonably good soil, preferring a good fertile well-drained loamy soil[, , ]. They usually succeed on dry gravels and on sandy soils and, once established, are very drought resistant[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
The various N. American Celtis species provide an important wildlife habitat, forming thickets that give shelter and fleshy drupes that ripen in autumn, persist after the leaves fall, and supply winter food for birds and mammals[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - pounded into a mush and then eaten[]. The light browm, globose fruit is about 7 - 9mm in diameter, it has a thin flesh surrounding a large seed[, , ]. The seed is probably pounded along with the fruit[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood of N. American Celtis species is a yellowish gray brown to light brown; the sapwood is pale yellow to grayish or greenish yellow. The wood is straight and close-grained, moderately hard, strong in bending, but weak in compression[]. The wood is not strong, nor durable[, ]. It also has high shock resistance, but lacks stiffness. The wood planes and turns well. It is intermediate in its ability to hold nails and screws. It resists splitting from screws better than from nails; glueing properties are excellent. It is used for cheap furniture, millwork, sporting and athletic goods, boxes and crates, fencing, veneer and plywood[, , , ].
The wood is used for fuel[, ].

We have no specific information for this species, but most species in this genus yield a fine timber; their fibre-rich bark is utilized for the manufacture of ropes and paper; and an oil obtained from the seed is used for making soaps and lubricants[].

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