Celtis africana is a source of timber. The best wooden clubs, in terms of durability and strength, are made from its branches. It is used in traditional medicine: Bark is used to treat headache. The leaves are highly palatable for cattle, goats and camels
In November 2021, the IUCN had no rating for Celtis africana. Despite this, it was included in in the list 23 species whose decreasing abundance is of most concern to Somaliland farmers and pastoralists.
Fici, S. (1999) Ulmaceae in Flora of Somalia 2: 88-91
Plants deciduous trees, up to 30 m tall; bark pale grey to whitish, smooth, usually ridged; young twigs pubescent. Leaves stipulate, petiolate, simple; stipules linear, 4-6 mm long; petioles 1-5 mm long; blades ovate to lanceolate, 5-10 cm long, 2-5.5. cm wide, surfaces pubescent to subglabrous, lower surfaces usually with over the veins and in tufts in the angles of the lateral veins, basal veins extending into the upper part of the leaves, bases unequal, margins serrate in distal 2/3, tips acuminate. Cymes axillary, of 3-15(-35) male flowers on 1-4 mm long pedicels; upper cymules of 1-several bisexual flowers on pedicels up to 17 mm long. Sepals 4-5, 1.5-3 mm long; ovaries hairy, with 2 simply stiles up to 4 mm long. Drupes ellipsoid-globose, about 5 mm long, yellow-orange, pubescent, on elongated pedicels.
Celtis africana grows in evergreen Junperus and Buxus forest and bushaland at 1650-2000 m. the Flora of Somalia reports it as present in regions N1 & 2 and as widespread in tropical Africa from Eritrea, \ethiopia and Sudan west to Ghana, south to Angola and the Cape Province as well as in Yemen.
It is a source of timber. The best wooden clubs, in terms of durability and strength, are made from its branches. It is used in traditional medicine: Bark is used to treat headache. The leaves are highly palatable for cattle, goats and camels
