Celtis pallida

Torrey in W. H. Emory

in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2: 203. 1859.

Common names: Desert hackberry
Illustrated
Synonyms: Celtis spinosa var. pallida (Torrey) M. C. Johnston Momisia pallida (Torrey) Planchon
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Shrubs, to 3 m; crowns rounded. Bark gray, smooth. Branches spreading, flexuous, whitish gray, with thorns, puberulent; thorns single or in pairs, 3-25 mm. Leaf-blade ovate to ovate-oblong, to 2-3 × 1.5-2 cm, thickish, margins entire or crenate-dentate, apex rounded to acute; surfaces scabrous. Inflorescences cymes, 3-5-flowered, longer than petiole, flowers mostly staminate on proximal branches, terminal flower bisexual. Drupes orange, yellow, or red, ovoid, 6-7 mm; pedicel 1-2 mm.


Phenology: Flowering late winter–spring (Mar–May).
Habitat: In deserts, canyons, mesas, washes, foothills, thickets, brushland, and grassland near gravelly or well-drained sandy soil
Elevation: 1000-1300 m

Distribution

V3 673-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Fla., N.Mex., Tex., Mexico, Central America, South America (to n Argentina)

Discussion

Celtis pallida is closely related to C. iguanaea (Jacquin) Sargent from Mexico. Reports of C. iganaea from Florida and Texas are unconfirmed. Celtis iguanaea can be identified by its longer leaves (to 4 cm wide), small fruits (4-5 mm), and single thorns. Its fruits have acid, juicy pulp.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"thick" is not a number.

... more about "Celtis pallida"
longitudinal +
rounded +  and acute +
Susan L. Sherman-Broyles +, William T. Barker +  and Leila M. Schulz +
Torrey in W. H. Emory +
fissured +
cuneate;rounded +
whitish gray +
4(-5)-lobed +
thick-walled +
Desert hackberry +
rounded +
Ariz. +, Fla. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +, Mexico +, Central America +  and South America (to n Argentina) +
red;yellow;red;yellow;orange +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
1000-1300 m +
curved +  and straight +
absent;scanty +
sigmoid +  and curved +
nonfunctional +
distinct +  and free +
bisexual +  and unisexual +
globose +  and ovoid +
In deserts, canyons, mesas, washes, foothills, thickets, brushland, and grassland near gravelly or well-drained sandy soil +
cluster +, few-flowered +, solitary +  and pistillate +
pinnate +  and palmate-pinnate +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
ovate;ovate-oblong +
thickish;1.5cm;2cm +
distichous +  and alternate +
2-cleft +  and entire +
elongate +
crenate-dentate +  and entire +
toothed +, crenate +  and serrate +
amphitropous +, anatropous +  and pendulous +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Flowering late winter–spring (Mar–May). +
2(-3)-carpellate +
in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. +
valvate +  and imbricate +
persistent +
Illustrated +
persisting +
distinct +
divided +
Celtis spinosa var. pallida +  and Momisia pallida +
Celtis pallida +
species +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
slender +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +