68 



Common Trees 



HACKBERRY 



Celtis occidentalis, Linnaeus 



THE Hackberry, also called Sugarberry, Nettle-tree, and 

 Hack-tree, is not important as a timber tree but it pro- 

 duces sweet berries relished by birds, opossums and raccoons. 



The leaves are simple, alternate, ovate, 2 to 4 inches long, 

 finely toothed along margin, sharp-pointed, rounded and 

 often lopsided at base, 

 rough on upper surface, 

 with prominent primary 

 veins. 



The flowers arc small, 

 greenish and borne on 

 slender stalks. The fruit 

 is a round, dark purple 

 berry about ^ of an inch 

 in diameter. It matures 

 about September, hangs 

 far into winter, and is 

 eaten freely by birds and 

 other animals. 



The grayish-b r o w n 

 bark ranges from smooth, 

 like that of the beech, to 

 very rough. Hard wart- 

 like bark projections are 

 common on medium-sized 

 trees. The twigs are slen- 

 der, tend to zigzag, and 

 are often grouped in dense 

 clusters known as 

 "witches-brooms." They 



contain a pith that is made up of thin white plates separated 

 by wide air spaces. This is known as "chambered pith." 



The wood is yellowish, rather heavy, and coarse-grained. 

 It is used chiefly for crates, boxes, handles and agricultural 

 implements. 



The Hackberry covers a range of 2,000,000 square miles 

 from New England to the Pacific Coast and south to Florida 

 and Texas. It is common in southwestern and western 

 Ohio, becoming rare in the southeastern and northeastern 

 parts. It prefers rich moist soil, is often found near streams, 

 but also occurs on dry rocky bluffs. It is rarely over 50 

 feet high. 



HACKBERRY 



One-fourth naturnl size. 



Twig section, flowers and leaf-acar, 



enlarged. 



