Celtis australis, commonly known as European nettle tree or hackberry, is also referred to as "spaccasassi" (stone splitter), "albero dei rosari" (rosary tree), and "arcidiavolo" (archdevil) in Italian. The hackberry tree is recognized for its robust and energetic roots capable of deforming asphalt, earning it the nickname "spaccasassi." Historically, the wood of the hackberry was used in stone quarries as wedges to split rocks by expanding when wet.
The hackberry is utilized in furniture and tool making, and its bark yields a yellow pigment used in dyeing and tanning. In rural traditions, farmers crafted whips, locally called "parpignen," by intertwining two hackberry branches to encourage working animals. The wood was also employed in crafting walking sticks, known as "bagola" or "bagolina," derived from the curved-handled staff of shepherds.
In Calabria, hackberry wood served various purposes, including cheese makers using it to break curd and creating collars for sheep, goats, and cattle. The tree's dual nomenclature, "albero dei Rosari" (rosary tree) and "Arcidiavolo" (archdevil), reflects its association with both rosary bead production from its round seeds and a legend linking Lucifer's fall from Paradise to holding a hackberry branch, evident in the devil-like shape of its apical leaves.
In summer, the plant produces small, edible fruits with a sweet pulp, maturing in autumn, which can be used to make infusions, alcohol, and liqueurs referred to as "celtide."
The large seed production and their easy germination make the presence of this tree so abundant in many parks that it is even considered invasive. It can live up to 500 years.
