Cercocarpus ledifolius

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Cercocarpus ledifolius
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius big bush.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Cercocarpus
Species:
C. ledifolius
Binomial name
Cercocarpus ledifolius
Cercocarpus ledifolius range map 2.png
Natural range of Cercocarpus ledifolius
Synonyms [1]
  • Cercocarpus hypoleucusRydb.
  • Cercocarpus ledifolius var. hypoleucus(Rydb.) M.Peck
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany branch with curly, fuzzy fruit Curl-leaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius close.jpg
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany branch with curly, fuzzy fruit

Cercocarpus ledifolius is a North American species of mountain mahogany known by the common name curl-leaf mountain mahogany.

Contents

Description

Cercocarpus ledifolius is a large, densely branching tree which can reach heights of 11 metres (36 feet), although it is not uncommon to find the adult plant as a shrub as short as 1 m (3+1⁄2 ft). Its leathery, sticky, dark green leaves are up to 4 centimetres (1+1⁄2 inches) long and lance-shaped, and the edges may curl under. The flower consists of a small tan tube from which protrudes a long, plumelike style covered in luxuriant tan hairs. The flowers are arranged in inflorescences of up to 3. The fruit is a hairy achene .5–1 cm long.

Cercocarpus ledifolius is slow-growing, sometimes taking up to a century to reach full height. The oldest specimens are thought to be around 1,350 years old, although the primary specimen that yielded this estimate was cut down. [2] This makes it one of the longest-lived known flowering plants.

Distribution and habitat

The species is widespread across much of the Western United States as well as Baja California in Mexico. [3] [4] It can be found at elevations ranging from 600 to 3,000 m (2,000 to 9,800 ft), with the preferred altitude varying depending on the region. It prefers shallow, well-drained soils with a sandy or grainy consistency, and is generally found in areas which receive only 15–26 cm (6–10 in) annual precipitation. [5] This makes it common on low mountains and slopes, [6] [4] where it grows in scattered groves among other drought-resistant species such as pinyon pines, junipers and sagebrush.

Ecology

The leaves are eaten by deer year-round. [7]

Uses

The Gosiute Native Americans used the wood to make their bows. [7] The species has many medicinal uses for various Native American groups, such as the Paiute and Shoshone.

References

  1. ↑ The Plant List, Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray
  2. ↑ Schultz, W.; Tueller, P.T.; Tausch, R.J. (1990). "Ecology of curlleaf mahogany in western and central Nevada: community and population structure" (PDF). Journal of Range Management. 43 (1): 13–20. doi:10.2307/3899112. hdl: 10150/644849 . JSTOR   3899112. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  3. ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  4. 1 2 Flora of North America, Cercocarpus ledifolius Nuttall in J. Torrey and A. Gray, 1840. Curl-leaf mountain mahogany
  5. ↑ "Cercocarpus ledifolius". www.fs.fed.us. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  6. ↑ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. Desert mountainmahogany, curl leaf mountain mahogany
  7. 1 2 Peattie, Donald Culross (1953). A Natural History of Western Trees. New York: Bonanza Books. p. 525.
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