Description: Shrubs or trees, evergreen or deciduous; monoecious or polygamous.
Leaves entire or regularly toothed, 3–5-veined from near base.
Inflorescences axillary on new shoots, racemes or panicles. Flowers unisexual and/or bisexual, axillary, the male flowers clustered, female and bisexual flowers solitary or 2 or 3 together. Perianth segments 4–6.
Fruit a drupe.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 67 species, tropical & temperate areas. Australia: c.10 species: W.A., Christmas Is., N.T., Qld. (native and naturalised), N.S.W., L.H.I., A.C.T. (naturalised), Vic. (doubtfully naturalised).
*C. sinensis Pers., native of Asia, is naturalized in southern Qld, but no records have been substantiated for N.S.W.
Text by G. J. Harden Taxon concept: Distribution and occurrence: Kew Plants of the World Online; Australian Plant Census [both accessed 9 May 2023].
| Key to the species | |
1 | Leaves entire, elliptic to lanceolate; inflorescences many-flowered | 2 |
| Leaves toothed, lanceolate to broad-ovate; inflorescence 1–few-flowered | 3 |
2 | Leaves chartaceous; apex narrowly acute to acuminate; N.T., Qld., N.S.W., Norfolk Island, also Melanesia, Polynesia and Malesia | Celtis paniculata |
| Leaves leathery; apex rounded; Lord Howe Island, New caledonia Back to 1 | Celtis conferta |
3 | Upper surface of leaves distinctly rough and scabrous; lower surface pubescent to glabrous; mature fruit brown to black or purple to black | 4 |
| Upper surface of leaves ± smooth and glabrous; lower surface with hairs usually confined to midvein; mature fruit orange Back to 1 | Celtis sinensis |
4 | Lower surface of leaves pale, almost white, and softly hairy, 1–4 cm wide; bark smooth | Celtis australis |
| Lower surface of leaves paler green than upper surface; usually mostly glabrous, 3–7 cm wide; bark furrowed Back to 3 | Celtis occidentalis |
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