Family: CELTIDACEAE
Also known as the nettle tree, the hackberry belongs to the same family as the elm. It is a small to medium sized tree native to southern Europe, N. Africa and Asia Minor. It grows to a height of 25 m, is round headed, is a useful shade tree and is reasonably frost hardy. The fruits are the size and colour of an edible green pea, and are sometimes eaten in countries where food is scarce. In cooler climates, the serrated leaves change to a pale yellow in autumn. The fruits becomes purple - black when ripe, although sometimes orange - red. They have a sweet flavour and can be eaten raw or used for jams, jellies or wines. They are a good addition to a chicken forage system.