I found another web page that addresses the usefulness of sugar/hackberry http://www.cobjon.com/basics.html
"The Elm family, Ulmaceae, offers the genus Celtis, whose species produce a
nutlet. The whole nut with its outer husk is sweet. It is easily ground into
meal, and cooked in various ways, as was done by native peoples."
This is a good use of this fruit. The nutlet contains both protein and oil,
and the fleshy covering over it provides a little sweetness.
-Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-admin@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-admin@lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of nottke
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 2:59 PM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] sugarberry
Here on the eastern side of the Appalachians, Hackberry tends to
predominate above 1000 ft and Sugarberry predominates below 1000 ft.
Probably because our climate is warmer than east Tennessee, the seeds seem
to mature and get snapped up by birds in early Fall.
Rather than for fruit, I prize the tree as a host plant for six of our
butterfly species; Question Mark, Eastern Comma, Hackberry Emperor, Tawny
Emperor, American Snout, and Mourning Cloak.