Chinese celtis

Celtis sinensis

family

Ulmaceae

origin

Exotic

declaration

Category 3 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)

Category 3 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)

Must not be distributed or disposed. This means it must not be released into the environment unless the distribution or disposal is authorised in a regulation or under a permit.

Common names

Chinese celtis, Celtis, Chinese elm, Chinese hackberry, Chinese nettle-tree, Hackberry, Japanese hackberry.

A large spreading tree with smooth greyish-coloured bark. Its alternately arranged leaves have glossy upper surfaces and bluntly toothed margins (in their upper halves). Its flowers are small, with inconspicuous petals and a feathery stigma. Its small (7-9 mm across), rounded, berry-like fruit turn from green to orange and then red as they mature. Older fruit eventually turn brown in colour and have a wrinkled appearance.

Leaf arrangement:Simple
Leaf form:Alternate
Green
Green
48BFB2B5-D573-4E91-B7A1-0B51D3FF42E9Discoloured

Impact

Impact

Chinese celtis (Celtis sinensis) is a significant environmental weed in New South Wales and Queensland, and was recently listed as a priority environmental weed in two Natural Resource Management Regions. It is most common and widespread in south-eastern Queensland, where it is actively managed by community groups, and a recent assessment listed it as one of the top ten environmental weeds in this region.It is a fast-growing tree that appears to favour clay soils associated with alluvial floodplains, creeks and gullies. It forms dense infestations, particularly along creek banks (i.e. in riparian areas), and prevents the regeneration of native vegetation. It also invades open areas within forests that have been cleared or otherwise disturbed. Dense infestations of this species use large amounts of water and also have the potential to affect populations of native animals through habitat destruction.

Location

Location

Characteristics

Characteristics

Similar Species

Similar Species

Control Methods