The southern Celtis tree (Celtis australis), which occasionally grows as a park tree in Germany, originates from the Mediterranean, North Africa and West Asia and is native to southern Europe along the coast of the Mediterranean to Istria and Tyrol. According to the latest findings, it belongs to the hemp family (Cannabaceae) and forms trees that grow to a height of approx. 20 metres with trunk diameters of 30-50 cm. The tree has a rough, strongly furrowed bark, its asymmetrical leaves are reminiscent of elm leaves and have a serrated leaf edge. In spring it bears small, unremarkable green flowers and in autumn it develops pea-sized, orange to reddish-brown stone fruits, which turn dark brown to almost black when ripe in winter and are eaten by birds. In South Tyrol these fruits are called Zürgeln. The wood is similar to ash or elm wood, but is much harder and heavier than this. The tough-elastic, fine and heavy, pale white to slightly greyish, silky lustrous wood (historically Trieste wood) is used, among other things, for the manufacture of wind instruments and traditionally for whips, fishing rods and oars because of its toughness and elasticity.
