| Celtis laevigata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Cannabaceae |
| Genus: | Celtis |
| Species: | C. laevigata |
| Binomial name | |
| Celtis laevigata | |
 | |
| Natural range ofCeltis laevigata | |
Celtis laevigata is a medium-sizedtree native toNorth America. Common names includesugarberry,southern hackberry, or in the southern U.S.sugar hackberry or justhackberry.
Sugarberry is easily confused with common hackberry (C. occidentalis) where the range overlaps. Sugarberry has narrower leaves with mostly smooth margins, the berries are juicier and sweeter, while the bark is less corky.[3] The species can also be distinguished by habitat: where the ranges overlap, common hackberry occurs primarily in upland areas, whereas sugarberry occurs mainly in bottomland areas.[3]
Sugarberry's range extends from theSoutheastern United States west toTexas and south to northeasternMexico.[2] It is also found on the island ofBermuda.[4]
Sugarberry occurs primarily along streams and in moist soils onfloodplains. Its sweetish fruit is eaten bybirds and rodents,[5] helping todisperse theseeds.[6] The leaves are eaten by a number of insects, for examplecaterpillars of the Io moth (Automeris io).
Sugarberry'sleaf litter containsallelopathic chemicals that inhibit seed germination and growth in many other plant species.[7]
Sugarberry mixed with hackberry supplies the lumber known as hackberry. Small amounts are used for dimension stock,veneer, and containers, but the main use of sugarberry wood is for furniture. The light-colored wood can be given a light- to medium-brown finish that in other woods must be achieved by bleaching.[8] The wood is also used to produce sporting goods andplywood.[9]
Sugarberry is frequently planted as a shade-tree within its range. It is well-adapted to urban areas; itselm-like shape and warty bark make it an attractive landscape tree.
