Forked-branch hackberry (Celtis dichotoma)

Iguana hackberry Cambrón Granjeno huasteco
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey / License

Celtis dichotoma: Botanical Facts and Morphology

Found weaving through tropical dry forests and coastal thickets, Celtis dichotoma displays a resilient and adaptable growth habit. This botanical taxon, now widely recognized under its accepted name Celtis iguanaea, flourishes as a scrambling shrub or small tree equipped with characteristic recurved spines. The robust nature of this plant allows it to thrive in diverse ecological niches, ranging from the southern United States through Central America and down to Brazil.

Taxonomy

  • ∟ царство Plantae
  • ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
  • ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
  • ∟ Angiosperms
  • ∟ mesangiosperms
  • ∟ eudicots
  • ∟ Superrosids
  • ∟ rosids
  • ∟ order Rosales
  • ∟ family Cannabaceae (Hemp family)
  • ∟ genus Celtis (Hackberry)
  • ∟ species Celtis dichotoma (Forked-branch hackberry)

Living Pulse

Powered by iNaturalist

Morphology

The structural characteristics of Celtis dichotoma include a woody, often scrambling habit with distinctively recurved stipular spines along the branches. The foliage consists of alternate, ovate to elliptic leaves that typically feature three prominent veins originating from the base.

During the reproductive phase, the plant produces inconspicuous, greenish flowers grouped in axillary cymes. These eventually develop into fleshy, ovoid drupes that mature to a bright yellow or orange hue, containing a single hard seed.

Flowering season

Spring

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Name
Dec

Applications

Local communities occasionally utilize the dense wood of this species for fuel and basic construction needs. The sweet, fleshy fruits are edible and serve as a supplemental foraging resource, although they are mostly left for wildlife.

Because of its tendency to form dense, spiny thickets, the plant is sometimes maintained as a living fence or natural barrier in agricultural settings.

Interesting facts

  • The accepted taxon for this species is colloquially known as the "iguana hackberry" because its fruits are a favored food source for green iguanas.
  • Its recurved spines act as climbing aids, allowing the shrub to scramble over other vegetation to reach sunlight in dense forest edges.
  • Various bird species rely on the bright orange drupes during dry seasons when other food sources become scarce.

Geography of distribution

  • United States
  • Mexico
  • Brazil
  • Colombia

Sources

  • Plants of the World Online (POWO)
  • Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
  • Tropicos

Technical Information

External Databases: POWO, Tropicos

Смотрите также

Orange hackberry

Orange hackberry

Celtis aurantiaca

A deciduous tree species native to Korea, recognized by its large leaves with caudate-acuminate tips …

Read more →