ðə tɹˈiː sˈɜːvz æz ɐ bˈʌɾɚflˌaɪ lˈɑːɹvəl hˈoʊst, pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚli ðə hˈækbɛɹi ˈɛmpɚɹɚ ænd ðə tˈɔːni ˈɛmpɚɹɚ.
The tree serves as a butterfly larval host, particularly the hackberry emperor and the tawny emperor.