bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Cercocarpus betuloides is a shrub or small tree in the rose family.[2] Its common names include mountain mahogany and birch leaf mountain mahogany[2][3] The common name "mahogany" comes from the hardness and color of the wood, although the genus is not a true mahogany.[2]

Mountain mahogany
var. blancheae in fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Cercocarpus
Species:	C. betuloides
Binomial name
Cercocarpus betuloides Nutt. 1840
Natural range of Cercocarpus betuloides
Synonyms[1]
Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Watson) F.L. Martin

Range and habitat

The plant is native to California, Baja California, Oregon, Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico.[4] It typically grows in summer dry areas of the foothills and mountains of California, often in chaparral communities.[2]

Description

Growth pattern

Cercocarpus betuloides is a shrub or small tree growing from 3 feet (0.91 m) to 30 feet (9.1 m).[2][5] Its branches are incised and muscular in appearance from the side. In cross section they appear lobed.

Common shrub associates within the chaparral community include toyon.[6]

Leaves and stems

The leaves are distinctive in that they have smooth edges from the base to about half way up, then are wavy or toothed to the rounded tip.[2]

Betula is the birch genus, and the species name refers to the birch-like leaves.[2]

Inflorescence and fruit

The white flowers are small, clustered, and mildly scented, similar to acacia.[2]

The fruit is a tubular achene with the long, plumelike flower style still attached.

The genus name comes from the Greek kerkos ("tail"), referring to the tail-like appearance of the fruit; and carpus ("fruit"), thus, "fruit with tail".

Taxonomy

Varieties

There are three varieties:[7][8]

• Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides, rangewide
• Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheae – Catalina mahogany, island mountain mahogany, limited to California, especially the Channel Islands[9][10]
• Cercocarpus betuloides var. macrourus – few flowered mountain mahogany, California and Oregon[11][12]

Cercocarpus betuloides is sometimes treated as a part of Cercocarpus montanus,[13] var. glaber in particular.[14]

Uses

Deer, cattle and sheep browse the plant.[15]

The reddish ^{[citation needed]} wood of the shrub is very hard and was traditionally used by the indigenous peoples of California to make arrow tips, fishing spears, and digging sticks.[2]

Cercocarpus betuloides is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty nurseries for planting in native plant, drought tolerant, and wildlife gardens; and in designed natural landscaping projects and habitat restoration programs.[16][17]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cercocarpus betuloides.

• Jepson Manual Treatment — Cercocarpus betuloides
• Calflora taxon report, University of California: Cercocarpus betuloides (Mountain mahogany, birch leaf mountain mahogany)
• United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile for Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (birchleaf mountain mahogany)
• Cercocarpus betuloides — Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California

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