Hackberry

Description

Overall view of hackberry tree in open field.

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis/Ulmaceae). The genus Celtis (Hackberrys, Nettle-trees and Sugarberrys) contains about 75 species native to North and Central America and southern Africa. Celtis is the old Latin name for a species of “lotus”. The fruits of this species were the lotus referred to in Homer’s Odyssey. Hackberry trees can reach heights of 130 ft (40 m), with a diameter of 4 ft (1.2 m). Hackberry has pale yellow to green sapwood, with light brown heartwood. Hackberry wood has a straight grain, is medium hard, bends well and has great shock resistance. It is not stiff and is weak in compression. It works well with most tools for most applications and is not resistant to decay. It is used for boxes and crates, charcoal, fence posts, fuel, furniture, millwork, plywood, sporting and athletic goods, and veneer. The bark was used as a yellow dye.

Tech Sheet

https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/hackberry

Close up view of hackberry leaves on a branch.

Characteristics

Characteristics found in the Hackberry (Celtis sp.):

  • Ring porous
  • Ulmiform latewood
  • Spirals in vessels
  • Simple perforations
  • I/V pits medium (8-12)
  • Rays 5-8 seriate & heterocellular
  • Crystals in rays and axial parenchyma

Slides (Click on each image to view a larger image)

WOOD SLIDES

Microscope slide of Hackberry wood. Arrows point to earlywood, ulmiform latewood, the growth ring boundary and the rays.
Microscope slide of transverse section of hackberry wood. Arrows point to ulmiform latewood vessels ray and fibers.
Microscope slide of reduction of hackberry wood. Arrows point to upright ray cells and procumbent ray cells.
Microscope slide of tangential section of hackberry wood. Arrows point to the vessels and rays.
Microscope slide of tangent direction of hackberry wood. Arrows point to the rays.
Microscope slide of tangential section of hackberry wood. Arrows point to upright ray cells and procumbent ray cells.

CHARCOAL SLIDES

Microscope slide of transverse section of hackberry charcoal. Arrows point to raise and one year's growth of earlywood and latewood.
Microscope slide of transverse section of hackberry charcoal. Arrows point to growth ring boundaries.
Microscope slide of transverse section of hackberry charcoal arrows identify latewood and earlywood growth over a year.
Microscope slide of radial section of hackberry charcoal. Arrows point to the ray.
Microscope slide of radial of hackberry charcoal. Arrows point to upright ray cells and procumbent ray cells.
Scope slide of radial section of hackberry charcoal. Arrows point to upright cells and procumbent ray cells.
Microscope slide of tangential surface of hackberry charcoal. Arrows identify vessels.
Microscope slide under additional magnification of tangential surface of hackberry charcoal. Arrows point to vessels and rays.
Microscope slide of tangential surface of hackberry charcoal. Arrows identify wide type rays.