Common Name:

General Information

Celtis zenkeri is a deciduous tree with a much-branched crown; it can grow 10 - 50 metres tall. The bole is sinuous and very irregular; it can be 50 - 120cm in diameter with 4 - 6 buttresses up to 2 metres wide, several meteres high and 10cm thick[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a mdicine, sandpaper and source of wood. It is also the source of a commercial timber that is exported. It is planted locally to provide shade[].
Celtis zenkeri has a wide native range being found in West, Central and East Africa. It is assumed that the species has a large population. It is not considered threatened at present but the harvest and trade of the species for timber requires monitoring.The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone, through Cameroon and southern Central African Republic to Uganda, south to northern Angola, DR Congo and Tanzania.

Habitat

An understorey tree in semideciduous rain-forest, especially along the edges; gallery forest; forest regrowth, savannah; clearings; often abundant; at elevations from 200 - 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	35.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the bark is used to treat coughs and epilepsy[].

The plant (part not specified) is used in the treatment of skin complaints and cuts[].

Other Uses

The leaves have a rough surface and are used as a sandpaper for smoothing wood etc[].

The heartwood is creamy white to light yellow, bordering on light brown; it is not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is usually straight, sometimes interlocked; texture moderately fine; fresh cut and rewetted wood has an unpleasant odour. The wood is of moderate weight; fairly hard; of low durability, being susceptible to attacks of fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It works well with both hand and machine tools, though it has a moderate blunting effect on cutting tools so stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide are recommended; straight-grained stock planes well, but a cutting angle of 15° is recommended to avoid tearing in wood with interlocked grain; it finishes and polishes very well; is difficult to nail and screw so pre-boring is recommended to prevent splitting; it glues well. The wood is used for light construction, flooring, joinery, interior trim, frames, staircases, furniture, ladders, crates, boxes, match splints, tool handles, hardboard and particle board[, ].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a nursery seedbed in a sunny position[]. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 28 - 42 days. The seedlings grow away quickly[]..

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