Celtis toka (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

← Celtis africana

Bekele-Tesemma, Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia, 2007 Celtis toka (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Chamaecytisus proliferus →

Celtis toka Ulmaceae Indigenous

Common names

• Agnuakgna: Lero
• Mejengrgna: Oleme
• Nuyergna: Riak

Ecology

In Ethiopia, it grows in Moist Bereha and Moist and Wet Kolla agroclimatic zones of Gambella, Ilubabor and Gamo Gofa, 400 - 600 m, annual rainfall 1,400 - 2,000 mm.

Uses

Firewood, timber (construction), handles, farm implements, food (fruit), fodder (leaves).

Description

It is a huge tree to a height of 15 m and DBH of up to 1.2 m or more.

• BARK: dark, scaly especially on branchlets, often no scale on young branches, peals of easily from branches.
• LEAVES: tomentose, alternate, simple, pale green when young and dark green when old, 2-12 cm in length and 1.2-5 cm in width, with four coarse leaf veins radiating from its base towards tip, base asymmetric; petiole 2-10 mm long, margin entire.
• FLOWER: not conspicuous, yellowish green, flowers stocks short and many along the branchlets.
• FRUIT: globose, green when young and yellowish at maturity.

Propagation

Seedlings and wildings.

Seed

• Treatment: No treatment required.
• Storage: Can store in air-tight containers

Management

Coppices well. Coppice reduction improves stem growth.

Remarks

Goats and cattle eat the leaves and people the fruits.