Celtis occidentalis, L.

Form.—Height 25-80 feet, diameter up to 30 inches; trunk long when in close stands with other trees; crown spreading or round.

Leaves.—Alternate, simple, ovate, narrowed to sharp points, rounded oblique base, coarsely serrate, rough above, with prominent veins, light yellow-green. The leaves are soft hairy beneath and pilose above when young.

Flowers.—May, with the leaves; monoecious, or with some perfect flowers; the staminate on drooping pedicels at base of season’s growth; the pistillate, few-flowered in axils of the upper leaves, greenish and small.

Fruit.—Ripens in September, a berry-like drupe, ¼ to ½ inch thick, dark purple, sweet and edible, on slender pedicels, often remaining on the tree during the winter.

Bark.—Usually rough with warty projections, light gray.

Wood.—Heavy, soft, coarse-grained, yellowish, resembling ash, with light-colored sapwood.

Range.—Most of the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains.

Distribution in West Virginia.—Common in the eastern Panhandle and scattered throughout the State; rare or not occurring in the counties along the Alleghanies and in those adjacent on the west.

Habitat.—Grows best on moist, rich land, but is found in a variety of soils.

Notes.—Sugar Berry and Hoop Ash are two common local names of this species. In some places along the Ohio River the tree grows to a fairly large size with a long clear trunk; in the eastern part of the State it is usually small and scrubby. The tree is most easily distinguished by its peculiar warty bark and by the witches’ brooms which are usually present. The wood is often sold as Ash and is used for cheap furniture, cooperage, crates, boxes, agricultural implements, etc. The very small shrubby trees found in the Eastern part of the State should probably be classed as Variety pumila, Muhl.