VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Celtis reticulata | Netleaf Hackberry 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Wood of netleaf hackberry is light brown, heavy, and not easily worked
[37,43].  It is used to make boxes, crates, barrels, furniture,
cabinets, paneling, and miscellaneous items [23,55,65], and is used
locally for fenceposts and firewood [37,72].  Early homesteaders crafted
rough furniture from hackberry wood [44].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Netleaf hackberry is used extensively for food and cover by many birds
and mammals [37].

Browse:  On the Edwards Plateau of Texas, netleaf hackberry is a
preferred white-tailed deer browse [3,15].  In parts of southern Texas,
it is a major component of mule deer diets but is relatively unimportant
to white-tailed deer [2].  It may be heavily utilized by deer during
drought years [1] and in southern Texas receives most use during winter
and spring [15].  Pronghorn commonly browse netleaf hackberry in the
spring [11].  Beaver feed on hackberry wood in many areas [48].  Scrub
jays commonly feed on leaf galls present on foliage of netleaf hackberry
[34].

Cattle sometimes browse netleaf hackberry [59], although it is most
often used on overgrazed sites where more preferred forage is
unavailable [20].  Spanish goats often seek out tender young sprouts
during the first year after fire [70].

Fruit:  Fruit of netleaf hackberry is readily consumed by many birds
[55,73].  It is considered the single most important winter bird food at
the lower edge of the mountain brush zone along the Wasatch Front of
northern Utah [34].  The band-tailed pigeon, Steller's jay, northern
flicker, American robin, Townsend's solitaire, Bohemian waxwing, cedar
waxwing, American crow, scrub jay, and rufous-sided towhee feed on this
persistent berry [34,43].  It reportedly constitutes an emergency food
source for avian seed eaters during January and February [62].  Many
mammals, including squirrels, foxes, Barbary sheep, and coyotes, also
eat netleaf hackberry fruit [43,76].


PALATABILITY : 
Leaves of netleaf hackberry become somewhat tough as they mature [74]
and may decline in palatability to some species; however, white-tailed
deer preference for this species tends to be highest in summer and fall
[60,62].  In Texas, general palatability has been rated as follows [11]:

Pronghorn               excellent
Cattle                  poor
Domestic sheep          poor

Fruit of netleaf hackberry is highly palatable to many birds and mammals
[48].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Netleaf hackberry browse in the Edwards Plateau of Texas has been rated
as good in protein (14.35%), good in phosphoric acid (P2O5) (0.38%), and
fair in lime (CaO) (6.27%) [26].


COVER VALUE : 
Netleaf hackberry provides good cover for a variety of big game species
[39,43].  The dense cover of netleaf hackberry stands is favored by
white-tailed deer in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas [49].
Southern plains woodrats use netleaf hackberry twigs to construct houses
[66].  Netleaf hackberry provides nesting sites for the white-tailed
raven, Swainson's hawk, scissor-tailed flycatcher, Bullock's oriole, and
many doves, quail, and numerous desert songbirds [19,27,43].
Hackberries offer good hiding or resting cover for quail in many parts
of the Southwest [27].  Netleaf hackberry provides much sought-after
shade for domestic livestock in the Southwest and in the Snake River
Drainage of Idaho [18,39].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Netleaf hackberry can be used to aid in soil stabilization on various
types of disturbed sites [54,67].  It is well adapted to mountain-brush
and pinyon-juniper communities [54].  Netleaf hackberry can be
propagated from seed, which when cleaned, averages 4,870 per pound
(10,727/kg) [8].  It can also be propagated vegetatively from stem
cuttings [8].  Nursery or container stock can be transplanted onto
disturbed sites with good results [54,64].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Netleaf hackberry is well suited for use in landscaping [38].  This
small shade tree is tolerant of dry sites and can be planted in yards or
patios [23,64], and along streets in urban areas [23].  The shade value
of netleaf hackberry was also recognized by early Native American
peoples, including the Basketmakers of the Southwest [44].  Because of
its tendency to grow near flowing water, this tree provided the focus
for habitations such as Hovenweep and Montezuma Castle [44].

The sweet, edible fruit [37,63] was traditionally an important food
source for many Native American peoples [55,72].  Today, the fruit
receives only limited human use [37].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Netleaf hackberry is susceptible to "witches broom" and various insect
infestations [37,44,75].  Netleaf hackberry can be reduced by heavy
grazing [59].

Related categories for Species: Celtis reticulata | Netleaf Hackberry