Chinese celtis (Celtis sinensis)

Present distribution

Scientific name:	Celtis sinensis (Pers.)
Common name(s):	chinese celtis

This weed is not known to be naturalised in Victoria

Habitat:

Clay soils associated with creek flats and gullies, invader of riparian habitats (NRW 2009). Wide range of disturbed and undisturbed soils (COS 2009). Drought tolerant (UNIF 2009). Grows in part shade / full sun (UNIF 2009). Coastal areas around rainforest (PLNT 2009). Disturbed bushland (COS 2009). Clay, loam, sand, slightly alkaline, acidic, occasionally wet, well drained (UNIF 2009).

Potential distribution

Potential distribution produced from CLIMATE modelling refined by applying suitable landuse and vegetation type overlays with CMA boundaries

Map Overlays Used

Land Use:
Broadacre cropping

Ecological Vegetation Divisions
Lowland forest; damp forest; riparian; rainforest; alluvial plainsgrassland; alluvial plains woodland; riverine woodland/forest

Colours indicate possibility of Celtis sinensis infesting these areas.

In the non-coloured areas the plant is unlikely to establish as the climate, soil or landuse is not presently suitable.

Red= Very high	Orange = Medium
Yellow = High	Green = Likely

Impact

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Social
1. Restrict human access?	Forms dense infestations along creek banks (NRW 2009). Deciduous shrub or tree to 15m (WOA 2009). Can form dense thickets and dominate other vegetation (COS 2009). High nuisance value. People and/or vehicles access with difficulty.	mh	mh
2. Reduce tourism?	It rapidly colonises disturbed bushland and can form dense thickets and dominate other vegetation (COS 2009). Roots: surface roots can lift sidewalks or interfere with mowing (UNIF 2009). Bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact; droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy (UNIF 2009). Some recreational uses affected.	mh	mh
3. Injurious to people?	No thorns (UNIF 2009). Susceptible to breakage... weak and tends to break (UNIF 2009). Possibility for injury is there, children climbing and branch breaks, or falls on somebody – but probability is low, no reports.	m	m
4. Damage to cultural sites?	Roots: surface roots can lift sidewalks or interfere with mowing (UNIF 2009). Bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact; droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy (UNIF 2009). Moderate structural effect.	mh	mh
Abiotic
5. Impact flow?	Forms dense infestations along river banks (DPIQ 2009). Deciduous (PIER 2009). Fruit, twigs, or foliage cause significant litter (UNIF 2009). Significant litter build up, would slow flow of especially smaller streams.	m	mh
6. Impact water quality?	Forms dense infestations along creek banks and prevents regeneration of native riparian vegetation (NRW 2009). Significant litter (UNIF 2009). Can form dense thickets and dominate other vegetation (COS 2009). Likely to reduce light availability, and flow/ oxygenation.	m	mh
7. Increase soil erosion?	Forms dense infestations along creek banks and prevents regeneration of native riparian vegetation (NRW 2009). Can form dense thickets and dominate other vegetation (COS 2009). Probably decreases the probability of soil erosion. Not enough information, no reports of increased soil erosion.	ml	m
8. Reduce biomass?	Forms dense infestations along creek banks and prevents regeneration of native riparian vegetation (NRW 2009). Significant litter (UNIF 2009). Can form dense thickets and dominate other vegetation (COS 2009). Direct replacement of biomass by invader.	ml	m
9. Change fire regime?	Not enough information.	m	l
Community Habitat
10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC	EVC = Clay Heathland (V); CMA = East Gippsland ; Bioregion = East Gippsland Uplands; H CLIMATE potential. Creates monocultures where little else will grow (PLNT 2009). Adults can have hundreds of seedlings nearby. Displaces local tree species (SWWS 2009). - Major displacement of some dominant species within a strata/layer (or some dominant species within different layers).	mh	h
(b) medium value EVC	EVC = Blackthorn Scrub (R); CMA = East Gippsland Bioregion = Highlands Southern Fall; H CLIMATE potential. Creates monocultures where little else will grow (PLNT 2009). Adults can have hundreds of seedlings nearby. Displaces local tree species (SWWS 2009). - Major displacement of some dominant species within a strata/layer (or some dominant species within different layers).	mh	h
(c) low value EVC	EVC = Banksia Woodland (LC); CMA = East Gippsland; Bioregion = East Gippsland Lowlands; H CLIMATE potential. Creates monocultures where little else will grow (PLNT 2009). Adults can have hundreds of seedlings nearby. Displaces local tree species (SWWS 2009). - Major displacement of some dominant species within a strata/layer (or some dominant species within different layers).	mh	h
11. Impact on structure?	Creates monocultures where little else will grow (PLNT 2009). Adults can have hundreds of seedlings nearby. Displaces local tree species (SWWS 2009). Major effects on all layers. Forms monoculture; no other strata/layers present.	h	mh
12. Effect on threatened flora?	Creates monocultures where little else will grow (PLNT 2009).Likely to reduce population sizes of threatened species that are growing in an area of C. sinensis infestation. Any population of a VROT spp is reduced.	ml	m
Fauna
13. Effect on threatened fauna?	Destroys habitats of native animals (DPIQ 2009). It also sucks up water and has the potential to affect populations of native animals through habitat destruction (NRW 2009). Reduction in habitat for threatened spp, leading to reduction in numbers of individuals, but not to local extinction.	m	m
14. Effect on non-threatened fauna?	Destroys habitats of native animals (DPIQ 2009). It also sucks up water and has the potential to affect populations of native animals through habitat destruction (NRW 2009). Reduction in habitat for fauna spp., leading to reduction in numbers of individuals, but not to local extinction.	mh	mh
15. Benefits fauna?	Fruit characteristics: attracts birds; attracts squirrels and other mammals (UNIF 2009). 15m tree (PLNT 2009), No thorns (UNIF 2009), therefore also probably provides shelter and shade for fauna species. Provides some assistance in either food or shelter to desirable species.	mh	mh
16. Injurious to fauna?	No thorns, burrs, spines (UNIF 2009) and no toxins reported. No effect.	l	mh
Pest Animal
17. Food source to pests?	Long-term health usually not affected by pests (UNIF 2009). Fruit characteristics: attracts birds; attracts squirrels and other mammals (UNIF 2009). Supplies food for one or more minor pest spp. (eg. blackbirds or environmental insect pests).	ml	mh
18. Provides harbor?	No information about C. sinensis providing harbour. Can form dense thickets and dominate other vegetation (COS 2009). Deciduous shrub or tree to 15m (WOA 2009). No thorns, burrs, spines (UNIF 2009). Therefore has the potential to harbour pests such as foxes and bush rabbits. Capacity to harbor rabbits or foxes at low densities or as overnight cover.	mh	mh
Agriculture
19. Impact yield?	Not reported as a weed of agriculture, but could block access to waterways for livestock (DPIQ 2009). Unlikely to affect yield. Little or negligible affect on quantity of yield.	l	m
20. Impact quality?	Not reported as a weed of agriculture, but could block access to waterways for livestock (DPIQ 2009), thereby reducing quality. Minor impact on quality of produce (eg < 5% reduction).	ml	m
21. Affect land value?	Dozing and burning dense infestations with controlled grazing gives best control (NRW 2009). Not reported as a weed of crops, may cause a problem for water access for livestock but it can be controlled (NRW 2009). Not likely to affect land value – not reported as an agricultural weed. Decreases in land value <10%.	ml	m
22. Change land use?	Dozing and burning dense infestations with controlled grazing gives best control (NRW 2009).Not reported as a crop weed, can be controlled therefore unlikely to change land use. Little or no change	l	m
23. Increase harvest costs?	Control especially along waterways is likely to be necessary and is likely to increase harvest costs. Minor increase in cost of harvesting – eg slightly more time or labour is required.	ml	m
24. Disease host/vector?	Long-term health usually not affected by pests (UNIF 2009). Celtis Leaf beetle (BBI 2009). Provides host to minor (or common) pests, or diseases.	ml	mh

Invasive

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Establishment
1. Germination requirements?	Adults can have hundreds of seedlings nearby (SWWS 2009). Assume easily germinates. Requires natural seasonal disturbances such as seasonal rainfall, spring/summer temperatures for germination.	mh	mh
2. Establishment requirements?	Celtis often grows in clay soils associated with alluvial creek flats and gullies. It is an invader of riparian habitats (NRW 2009). Saplings grow in a wide range of soils and quickly establish themselves in disturbed or un-disturbed soil (COS 2009). Can establish under moderate canopy/litter cover	mh	mh
3. How much disturbance is required?	Particularly successful in areas where the original vegetation has been disturbed (NRW 2009). Establishes in relatively intact or only minor disturbed natural ecosystems (eg. wetlands, riparian, riverine, grasslands, open woodlands); in vigorously growing crops or in well-established pastures.	m	mh
Growth/Competitive
4. Life form?	Deciduous shrub or tree to 15m (WOA 2009). Other.	l	h
5. Allelopathic properties?	No information.	m	l
6. Tolerates herb pressure?	Particularly successful in areas fenced off from grazing stock (NRW 2009). Consumed and recovers slowly. Reproduction strongly inhibited by herbivory but still capable of vegetative propagule production (by rhizomes or tubers); weed may still persist.	ml	mh
7. Normal growth rate?	Fast growing species (NRW 2009). Rapid growth rate that will exceed most other species of the same life form.	h	mh
8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Drought tolerance: high (UNIF 2009), Light requirement: tree grows in part shade/part sun; tree grows in full sun (UNIF 2009), Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; slightly alkaline; acidic; occasionally wet; well-drained, Drought tolerance: high (UNIF 2009). Widespread weed in coastal areas especially around rainforest (PLNT 2009). Tolerant to at least two and susceptible to at least one.	ml	mh
Reproduction
9. Reproductive system	Flowers bi-sexual (WOA 2009). Sexual (self and cross-pollination).	ml	m
10. Number of propagules produced?	Thousands of small, orange berries are produced (NRW 2009). Above 2000.	h	mh
11. Propagule longevity?	Seeds rarely survive for more than two years (WOA 2009). Greater than 25% of seeds survive 5 years, or vegetatively reproduces.	l	mh
12. Reproductive period?	15m tall tree (PLNT 2009). Creates monocultures where little else will grow (PLNT 2009). Mature plant produces viable propagules for 10 years or more, or species forms self-sustaining monocultures.	h	mh
13. Time to reproductive maturity?	Not enough information.	m	l
Dispersal
14. Number of mechanisms?	Celtis seeds are spread by birds, flying foxes and water (NRW 2009). Very light, wind dispersed seeds, or bird dispersed seeds, or has edible fruit that is readily eaten by highly mobile animals.	h	mh
15. How far do they disperse?	Disperse effectively over long distances (USDA 2009). Very likely that at least one propagule will disperse greater one kilometre.	h	mh

References

Agnote (2009) NSW Agriculture. Agnote. Available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/155889/celtis.pdf (verified 10/05/2009).

BBI (2009) Brisbane Insects. Available at http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_leafbeetles/CeltisLeafBeetle.htm (verified 10/05/2009).

COS (2009) City of Sydney – Environment –tree management. Available at http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/environment/treemanagement/ChineseHackberry.asp (verified 10/05/2009).

DPIQ (2009) Department of Primary industries Queensland. Available at http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7228_ENA_HTML.htm (verified 10/05/09).

NRW (2009) Natural Resources and Water. Available at http://nqccs.com.au/library/weeds/chinese_celtis.pdf (verified 10/05/09)

PIER (2009) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk. Available at http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/celtis_sinensis.htm (verified 10/05/09).

PLNT (2009) Plantnet. Available at http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Celtis~sinensis (verified 10/05/09)

SWWS (2009) Save our water ways now. Available at http://www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=1509 (verified 10/05/09).

UNIF (2009) Available at http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/CELSINA.pdf (verified 10/05/2009).

USDA (2009) US Department of Agriculture. Available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?SEQ_NO_115=203938 (verified 10/05/09)

WOA (2009) Available at http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&state=&s=&ibra=all&card=T21 (verified 10/05/09)

Global present distribution data references

Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) http://www.cpbr.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni (26/03/2009).

Australian National Herbarium (ANH) (2008) Australia’s Virtual Herbarium, Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Plant Diversity and Research, Available at http://www.anbg.gov.au/avh/ (verified 17/02/2009).

Department of the Environment and Heritage (Commonwealth of Australia). (1993 – On-going) Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) http://www.cpbr.gov.au/apni/index.html (verified 07/05/2009).

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2008) Global biodiversity information facility, Available at http://www.gbif.org/ (verified 07/05/2009).

Integrated Taxonomic Information System. (2009) Available at http://www.itis.gov/ (verified 07/05/2009).

Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG) (2009) w³TROPICOS, Missouri Botanical Gardens Database, Available at http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html (viewed 7/05/2009).

United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. Taxonomy Query. (2009) Available at http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxgenform.pl (verified 26/03/2009).

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