Purple bullet tree, Coarse-shelled celtis
Celtis biondii

Family: Cannabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 14 m tall. The branches have a reddish-brown covering. The leaves are narrowly oval and 4-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The base is an oblique wedge shape. There can be teeth towards the tip. The flowers have several united. There are 2 or 3 fruit. These are fleshy, oval and 6 mm across. They are on stalks 1-1.5 cm long.

There are 70-100 Celtis species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 8-10 species in tropical America. Also put in the family Ulmaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is native to central China. It grows on hillsides from sea level to 2,000 m altitude. It grows in limestone areas. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The young shoots are eaten. A cooking oil is extracted from the seeds.

Edible parts

Shoots, seeds - oil, fruit

How it is grown

The plant flowers in April and May and fruits in September and October.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Many