Celtis bungeana

Blume

Cannabaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves 201 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Celtis bungeana, commonly known as Bunge's hackberry, is a deciduous tree in the genus Celtis that can grow 15 meters in height.

Description

A tree. It grows 10 m tall. The bark is grey. The leaves are oval and 3-7 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are thickly papery. There are 1 or 2 fruit together. They are bluish black when mature. They are 6-8 mm across.

Edible Uses

The leaves can be used as a tea substitute and make a savoury addition to rice. The fruit is eaten raw; it measures 6–8mm in diameter and contains a seed 4–5mm in diameter.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in China between 100-2,300 m above sea level. It grows in Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Korea,

Cultivation

Succeeds in any reasonably good soil, preferring a good fertile well-drained loamy soil. Succeeds on dry gravels and on sandy soils. Established plants are very drought resistant. Trees prefer hotter summers and more sunlight than are normally experienced in Britain, they often do not fully ripen their wood when growing in this country and they are then very subject to die-back in winter. An 8 year old plant at Kew in 1989 was 3m tall and very healthy with no sign of die-back. Trees can be very long-lived, perhaps to 1000 years. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Sow seed as soon as ripe in a cold frame for best results. Stored seed should receive 2–3 months of cold stratification before sowing in February or March in a greenhouse. Germination is generally good, though stored seed may take 12 months or longer to germinate, and seed can be stored for up to 5 years. Prick seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Seedling leaves often show white patches lacking chlorophyll, which is normal; older plants produce fully green leaves. Grow seedlings in a cold frame through their first winter and plant out the following late spring or early summer, with protection from cold during their first winter outdoors. Can also be propagated by cuttings.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Production

In China it flowers in April to May and fruits October to November.

Notes

There are 70-100 Celtis species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 8-10 species in tropical America. Also put in the family Ulmaceae.

Synonyms

C. davidiana.

References (4)

Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 664
Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 5
Mus. Bot. 2:71. 1856
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/