MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



HACKBERRY (Celtis occidentalis L.) 



ROWING in various situations, sometimes in moist, 

 rich ground, yet more frequently on gravelly soil 

 or rocky hillsides, it occurs occasionally throughout 

 the State, nevertheless it is somewhat more abundant 

 in the southeastern sections near the coast. Here it is 

 a slow -growing tree, of medium dimensions, aifd attains 

 a height of twenty to forty feet and a diameter of eight 

 to twenty inches. Its habit is somewhat vari- 

 able. The trunk is short and the branches 

 are stout, spreading and angular. The twigs 

 are extremely slender. The head is low and 

 round. 



The bark on the 

 trunk of old trees 

 is grayish and is 

 broken into thin scales. It is often marked 



HACKBERRY 



winter twi with ridges or with varying excrescences. 

 and buds. One- The bark on the season's shoots is reddish- 

 half natural size. 



The leaves are simple, alternate, two to four inches 

 long and variable in outline. They bear some resem- 

 blance to the leaf of the American Elm. The flowers 

 are greenish and appear in May with the leaves. 



The fruit is a globular drupe about one-fourth of an 

 inch in diameter. The flesh is sweet and the outer sur- 

 face is purplish-red, changing in winter to brownish- 

 orange. The wood is heavy, rather soft, weak and quick 

 to decay. It is employed in making the cheaper grades 

 of furniture. 



