Witstinkhout
uSinga lwesalukazi
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Celtis africana is a medium to large, deciduous or semi-deciduous tree with a dense, rounded crown and smooth, pale grey to white bark that may peel in older trees.
The leaves are simple, alternate, ovate to acuminate, with serrated margins toward the tip.
Small, greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by small, fleshy, berry-like fruits that ripen from green to yellow, orange, or purplish-black.
The tree is highly adaptable, growing in forests, bushveld, riverbanks, mountain gorges, and open grassland.
The tree is ecologically important, providing food and habitat for a wide range of wildlife.
Browzers: Its leaves are browsed by cattle, goats, and wild herbivores.
Fruits: The fruits are eaten by birds, monkeys, and other mammals, aiding seed dispersal.
Pollinators: Flowers are pollinated by insects, especially bees.
Lepidoptera: A wide range of moths and two butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves.
Small, greenish-yellow flowers in spring, pollinated by insects. Fruits are small, fleshy drupes, ripening to yellow, orange, or black, and are a key food source for birds and other wildlife.
Fruits are eaten by a wide variety of birds, including bulbuls, mousebirds, barbets, thrushes, starlings, pigeons, and parrots. The tree also supports insectivorous birds by attracting caterpillars and other insects.
Sow fresh seeds in well-drained soil. Germinates readily. Seedlings transplant well.
(Once seedlings are established in the ground, they do not transplant well).
Not commonly used. Propagation is primarily by seed.
Used for shade, timber, and traditional medicine; wood used for furniture and carvings.
Leaves browsed by livestock and wildlife.
Not known to be toxic.
Excellent for shade, habitat creation, soil stabilization, and increasing biodiversity in restoration projects.
