Celtis glabrata
Celtis glabrata Stev.
Celtis caucasica Willd.1, 3
Ulmaceae – Elm family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iv); C2a(i); E]. Tertiary relic.
Morphology and biology. Shrub or tree up to 8 m high. Bark smooth, grey. Leaves coriaceous, 4–10 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, lanceolate or irregularly rhombic, cuneate at base, serrate, pubescent below, glabrous and scabrid above. Flowers unisexual and hermaphrodite; monoecious plant. Hermaphrodite and female flowers single, male composed into a dichasium. Perianth 5-lobed; stamens 5, ovary oblong. Fruit with smooth or weakly reticulate endocarp and reddish brown exocarp. Fl. III–IV, fr. IX–X. Wind pollination. Reproduction by seeds and rhizome shoots.
Habitats and populations. Grows in dry, rocky and stony places, in forest of Quercus cerris, Carpinus orientalis and Pinus sylvestris. Occurs as single trees or 2–3 in groups. Mainly on dry and warm soils. Populations are fragmented and on small area – 0.05 ha.
Distribution in Bulgaria. NE Bulgaria, Danubian Plain, Balkan Range (eastern), Rhodopi Mts (eastern), Thracian Lowland, Toundzha Hilly Country, Strandzha Mts; up to 450 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula, Caucasus, SW and C Asia.
Threats. Occurs in areas with strong anthropogenic impact such as small-scale agriculture, wood cutting, soil pollution from agriculture; low growth rate, infection of leaves by pathogenic fungi (Sirosporium antenniforme).
Conservation measures taken. Some localities are within Rusenski Lom Nature Park and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the biology and ecology of the species, numerical strength of the populations; protection of the species by the Biodiversity Act; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Georgiev & Palamarev 1966; Browicz & Zelinski 1977; Marinov 1984; Cherneva 2002; Tzonev 2002; Sameva & Bakalova 2009.
Author: Elena Genova
