backyardphytopathology

[backyardphytopathology]

The common hackberry. It's not sick...

Celtis occidentalis.

Life span: 150 - 200 years. Avg. Height: ~30-50 ft. (9 - 15 meters)

The bumps at the base of this tree are natural. I love how they remind me of topographic maps - specifically the limestone karsts in Southeast Asia. This tree is a host and food source for a plethora of insects, butterflies, and birds. In the summer, it's common to observe nibbled on leaves and birds enjoying the berries on this giving tree.

You'll also see unsightly nipple galls on the leaves of this tree.

"After adult psyllids come out of hibernation in the spring, they lay eggs on emerging leaves of hackberry trees. After the egg hatches, the young psyllid starts feeding, and the leaf responds by growing abnormally. It develops a small pocket that surrounds the insect, forming a "gall" (photo above). The psyllid spends the rest of the summer sucking on tree sap safely within the small gall. Several species of gall-making psyllids infest hackberry trees. Infested hackberry trees do not seem to be harmed by these galls, but their abundance makes hackberry leaves look pretty ugly."

So, spotty, galled, ugly leaves do not likely indicate a sick hackberry tree. hm

From: https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/hackberrypsyllids.shtml