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HACKBERRY 



{Celtis occidcntalis L.) 



'T'lIE hackberry is found sparsely throughout the 

 State, except in the high mountains. It oocurs 

 most abundantly and of greatest size in the rich 

 alluvial lands in the eastern part of the State, but 

 thrives, however, on various types of soil, from the 

 poorest to the richest. It is usually a small or 

 medium-sized tree from 30 to 50 feet high and 10 

 to 20 inches in diam- 

 eter. Its limbs are 

 often crooked and 

 angular and bear a 

 head made of slender 

 pendant branches or 

 short, bristly, stubby 

 twigs. In the open the 

 crown is generally very 

 symmetrical. It makes 

 an excellent shade tree. 

 The bark is grayish 

 and generally rough 

 with scale-like or warty 

 projections of dead 

 bark. In some instances 

 the bark is smooth 

 enough on the limbs to 

 resemble that of the 

 beech. 



The leaves are simple, 

 ovate, alternate, one- 

 sided, 2 to 4 inches 

 long, the edges toothed 

 toward the long point. 



The flowers are inconspicuous, and the two kinds 

 are borne on the same tree. They appear in April or 

 May, and are of a creamy greenish color. The fruit 

 is a round, somewhat oblong drupe, or berry, from 

 one-quarter to one-third of an inch in diameter. It 

 has a thin, purplish skin, and sweet, yellowish flesh. 

 Prom this characteristic it is sometimes called 

 sugarberry. The berries frequently hang on the 

 tree most of the winter. 



The wood is heavy, rather soft, weak, and decays 

 readily when exposed. It is used chiefly for fuel, 

 but occasionally for lumber. 



Leaf, one-third uutural size. 

 Twig, one-half natural size. 



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