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Title: Cannabaceae (family description and keys) and Celtis

Author
item Whittemore, Alan

Submitted to: Jepson Manual of the Higher Plants of California, Ed. 2.
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2009
Publication Date: 1/31/2012
Citation: Whittemore, A.T. 2012. Cannabaceae (family description and keys) and Celtis. Jepson Manual of the Higher Plants of California, Ed. 2. pp. 598-600.

Interpretive Summary: This contribution will form a section of The Jepson Manual of the higher plants of California, a manual published by the University of California to provide up-to date information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all plants that are wild or invasive in California, together with a guide for identification, aimed at professional and sophisticated amateur users. The taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all species of Celtis that are wild or subject to escape in California is reevaluated, based primarily on a thorough reexamination of available herbarium specimens, and a guide for identification is supplied. Three species in the single genus Celtis are included. These are important as ornamentals, and two are newly reported to escape from cultivation and require monitoring for possible invasive tendencies. In addition, the family circumscription is revised in accordance with research findings since the publication of the previous edition. This contribution provides up-to-date information on the biology of this group of species, along with identification aids. It will support accurate identification of species that require monitoring for possible invasive tendencies. It will be used by professional land managers, educators, conservationists, and sophisticated amateur botanists and horticulturalists, insuring that work on land management and conservation will be based on full, accurate and up-to-date information about the basic biology and relationships of these organisms.

Technical Abstract: The family Cannabaceae is treated for The Jepson Manual of the higher plants of California, a detailed floristic manual for the state published by the University of California. Three species in the single genus Celtis are included, together with a description and keys for all genera of the family Cannabaceae, revised in accordance with research findings since the publication of the previous edition of the Manual; full morphological descriptions, dichotomous keys, and brief summaries of geographical and ecological distribution, economic use, and taxonomic notes are given for each species of Celtis, plus description and keys for all genera of the family. These species are important as ornamentals, and two are newly reported to escape from cultivation and require monitoring for possible invasive tendencies. This contribution will support accurate identification of species that require monitoring for possible invasive tendencies.