Celtis africana
Encyclopedia
Celtis africana is a tree in the Cannabaceae
family. This is a common and widespread forest tree from South Africa
to Ethiopia
. It is a fast growing and popular garden tree in South Africa and is easily propagated.
It is increasingly planted along roadsides in urban areas of southern Africa.
In spring it produces light green, tender, new leaves that contrast the pale bark. The leaves are simple, alternate, triangular in shape with three distinct veins from the base. The leaf margin is toothed for the upper two-thirds the lower third is smooth. The new leaves are bright, fresh green and hairy on the upper surface, they turn darker green and become smoother as they mature. (Leaf size: 15 to 100mm length x 10 to 50 mm breadth).
The leaves provide food for the larvae of Caloptilia celtina
.
Fruit and seeds are eaten by:
The small, greenish, star-like and inconspicuous flowers appear in early spring (August to October). Separate male and female flowers are produced on the same tree and pollinated by bees.
Masses of small, rounded, berry-like fruits on 13 mm long stalks follow the flowers, from October to February. When they turn yellow-brown to black they are ripe. Many birds like rameron pigeons, willow warblers, black-eyed bulbuls, mousebirds and crested barbets feed on the fruits and disperse the seeds.
Cannabaceae
Cannabaceae are a small family of flowering plants. As now circumscribed, the family includes about 170 species grouped in about 11 genera, including Cannabis , Humulus and Celtis...
family. This is a common and widespread forest tree from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. It is a fast growing and popular garden tree in South Africa and is easily propagated.
It is increasingly planted along roadsides in urban areas of southern Africa.
Description
Celtis africana is a deciduous tree of medium to tall height (12 m as an individual tree or up to 25 m tall in a forest habitat) but in an exposed, rocky position it may be a small shrub. Normally has a single, straight bole branching to form a dense, semi-circular canopy. Its trunk has a smooth, pale grey to white bark that may be loosely peeling in old trees and sometimes has horizontal ridges.In spring it produces light green, tender, new leaves that contrast the pale bark. The leaves are simple, alternate, triangular in shape with three distinct veins from the base. The leaf margin is toothed for the upper two-thirds the lower third is smooth. The new leaves are bright, fresh green and hairy on the upper surface, they turn darker green and become smoother as they mature. (Leaf size: 15 to 100mm length x 10 to 50 mm breadth).
Ecology
Celtis africana leaves are browsed by cattle and goats, and are food for the larvae of the long-nosed butterfly.The leaves provide food for the larvae of Caloptilia celtina
Caloptilia celtina
Caloptilia celtina is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is known from South Africa.The larvae feed on Celtis africana. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of a small, irregular, very transparent blotch-mine in fork of two strong veins, usually near base of leaf or...
.
Fruit and seeds are eaten by:
- Pycnonotus capensis (Cape BulbulCape BulbulThe Cape Bulbul, Pycnonotus capensis, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in coastal bush, open forest, gardens and fynbos in southern South Africa. This species nests mainly in the southern spring from September to November...
) - Pycnonotus tricolor (Black-eyed Bulbul)
- Urocolius indicus (Red-faced MousebirdRed-faced MousebirdThe Red-faced Mousebird is a species of mousebird or coly. It is a common in southern Africa from Zaire, Zambia and Tanzania south to the Cape. Its habitat is savanna with thickets, fynbos scrub, other open woodland, gardens and orchards.This bird is about 34 cm long, with the tail...
) - Trachyphonus vaillantii (Crested BarbetCrested BarbetThe Crested Barbet is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family.-Appearance:With its thick bill and very colourful plumage the Crested Barbet is unmistakable. This small bird has a speckled yellow and red face with a small black crest. The belly is yellow with red speckles, wings are black with...
) - Lybius torquatus (Black-collared BarbetBlack-collared BarbetThe Black-collared Barbet is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family.It is found in sub-Saharan Africa through Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Readily...
) - Cinnyricinclus leucogaster (Plum-coloured Starling)
- Poicephalus robustus (Cape ParrotCape ParrotThe Cape Parrot or Levaillant's Parrot is a large, temperate forest dwelling Poicephalus parrot endemic to South Africa. It has 2 subspecies which may be considered distinct species, the savanna dwelling Brown-necked Parrot and Grey-headed Parrot The Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus) or...
) - Amblyospiza albifrons (Thick-billed Weaver)
- Tauraco corythaix (Knysna Lourie)
- Gallirex porphyreolophus (Purple-crested LouriePurple-crested TuracoThe Purple-crested Turaco is a species of bird in the Musophagidae family.It is found in Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
) - Turdus smithi (Karoo ThrushKaroo ThrushThe Karoo Thrush is a member of the thrush family in Africa. It has traditionally been considered a subspecies of the Olive Thrush , but is increasingly treated as a separate species. This medium-sized bird has a length of about 24 cm...
) - Cossypha dichroa (Chorister Robin-chatChorister Robin-chatThe Chorister Robin-chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in South Africa and Swaziland...
) - Cossypha caffra (Cape Robin)
- Columba arquatrix (Rameron pigeon)
- Papio hamadryas (Chacma baboonChacma BaboonThe Chacma baboon , also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family. With a body length of up to 115 cm and a weight from 15 to 31 kg, it is among the largest and heaviest baboon species. The Chacma is generally dark brown to gray in color,...
) - Cercopithecus pygerythrus (Vervet monkeyVervet MonkeyThe vervet monkey , or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus....
) - Turtur tympanistria (Tambourine doveTambourine DoveThe Tambourine Dove is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in woodlands and other thick vegetation in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Its range extends from Senegal east to Ethiopia and Kenya and southwards through eastern Africa to south-eastern South Africa, but it is absent...
)
The small, greenish, star-like and inconspicuous flowers appear in early spring (August to October). Separate male and female flowers are produced on the same tree and pollinated by bees.
Masses of small, rounded, berry-like fruits on 13 mm long stalks follow the flowers, from October to February. When they turn yellow-brown to black they are ripe. Many birds like rameron pigeons, willow warblers, black-eyed bulbuls, mousebirds and crested barbets feed on the fruits and disperse the seeds.
Further Reading
- Pooley, E. 1993. The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.