Tessmann's hackberry (Celtis tessmannii)

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Celtis tessmannii: Botanical Data and Distribution

Deep within the tropical ecosystems of Central Africa grows Celtis tessmannii, a distinctive tree species classified within the family Cannabaceae. The species was formally introduced to science in 1915 by the British botanist Alfred Barton Rendle. It naturally occurs in the dense vegetation systems of several African nations, contributing to the region's rich botanical diversity.

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 tessmannii (Tessmann's hackberry)

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Morphology

Like nearly all established representatives of this globally distributed genus, this plant species grows as a robust woody form and develops a strong main trunk over time. The specific morphological characteristics of the dense foliage and inflorescences strictly adhere to the established structural plan of hackberries, characterized by prominent asymmetrical leaf bases and rather inconspicuous inflorescences.

Interesting facts

Although it is a predominantly wild species little known to the general public, Celtis tessmannii exhibits interesting particularities in its botanical classification:

  • Equatorial distribution: Its natural habitat spans a very specific biogeographical belt on the African continent, including countries such as Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Nomenclatural history: In historical records and taxonomic collections, this plant was also extensively identified by the heterotypic synonym Celtis brieyi, described independently five years later by Belgian botanist Émile De Wildeman in 1920.
  • Botanical redefinition: Traditionally, the genus Celtis was broadly classified within the family Ulmaceae, but rigorous taxonomic analyses and molecular investigations formally transferred the species to the family Cannabaceae.

Geography of distribution

  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Gabon
  • Cameroon
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Central African Republic

Sources

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

Technical Information

External Databases: GBIF, POWO, Tropicos

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