Chinese Celtis

Celtis sinensis

Family: Ulmaceae.

Form: Tree

Origin: Native of China, Korea and Japan.

Flowers/Seedhead: Inflorescence of few flowers, upper flowers bisexual, lower flowers male with stamens falling before sepals; sepals 4, purplish on outer surface, about 2.5 mm long and 1 mm wide, wider than enclosed petals; petals 4, cream and as long as sepals; stamens 4. Flowers late winter to early spring.

Description: Deciduous shrub or tree to 15 (rarely to 25) m high. Bark smooth, silvery grey. Leaves with base attaching to leaf stalk asymmetrically; leaves emerging at flowering initially hairy, particularly below, but rapidly becoming almost hairless. Fruit globe-shaped, succulent, 6–8 mm wide, on stalk 0.4–1 cm long.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by mature leaves 4–10 cm long, 2–4.5 cm wide, ovate, dark green, mostly hairless and shiny above, lower surface with hairs on veins and paler than upper surface, margins toothed in the upper half only, mature fruit orange-brown.

Dispersal: Seeds spread by birds, fruit bats and water.