Spanning an extensive range from tropical Africa through South Asia to northern Australia, Celtis philippensis var. philippensis is the nominate variety of this species. It exhibits high ecological adaptability, growing in monsoon forests, evergreen forests, and coastal vine thickets.
This variety is capable of reaching heights of up to 30 meters under optimal conditions, developing a straight trunk with light grey, smooth bark. The bark surface is often marked with horizontal ridges.
The leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptic, and measure between 5 and 15 centimeters in length. They are characterized by a conspicuous three-nerved base, with the lateral veins arching upward along the leaf margins.
Its flowers are small and greenish, arranged in compact axillary cymes. The ovoid drupes mature to an orange-red or black shade, enclosing a hard, stony seed.
Typically flowers from March to May in northern tropical regions
The hard timber of this tree is widely utilized across its native regions for construction posts, heavy flooring, and tool fabrication. It is also valued in ecological restoration efforts due to its rapid growth on degraded soils.
Other uses include:
In tropical Australia, this tree is a critical larval food plant for the caterpillars of the common aeroplane and tailed emperor butterflies.
The variety name represents the nominate form first described in 1837 by Spanish priest and botanist Francisco Manuel Blanco.
External Databases: GBIF
Picrasma
A genus of deciduous trees and shrubs known for their extremely bitter bark and medicinal …
Araucaria humboldtensis
A small, critically endangered coniferous tree native strictly to the high-altitude mountain peaks of southern …
Araucaria sect. Araucaria
Araucaria sect. Araucaria is a botanical section of evergreen conifers native to South America. It …
Araucaria
Araucaria is a genus of majestic, evergreen coniferous trees native to the Southern Hemisphere. Known …