Cercocarpus

Cercocarpus, commonly known as mountain mahogany, is a small genus of at least nine species of nitrogen-fixing flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae.  They are native to the western United States and northern Mexico, where they grow in chaparral and semidesert habitats and climates, often at high altitudes.  Several are found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. 

 
The classification of Cercocarpus within the Rosaceae has been unclear.  The genus has been placed in the subfamily Rosoideae, but is now placed in subfamily Dryadoideae. 

Members of the genus are deciduous shrubs or small trees, typically reaching heights of 3–6 m (9–18 ft) tall, but exceptionally up to 13 m (40 ft) high.  C. montanus usually remains under 1 m (3 ft) high because of incessant browsing by elk and deer. 

The name is derived from the Greek words κέρκος (kerkos), meaning "tail" and καρπός (karpos), meaning "fruit".   It refers to the tail-like plume on the fruits. 

Species 
Cercocarpus betuloides  – birch-leaf mountain mahogany
C. b. var.  betuloides
C. b. var.  blancheae (C.K. Schneid.)  Little – island mountain mahogany
C. b. var.  macrourus (Rydb.)  Jeps. –  Klamath mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus breviflorus A. Gray – hairy mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus douglasii  Rydb 
Cercocarpus fothergilloides Kunth
Cercocarpus intricatus S. Watson
Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. –  curl-leaf mountain mahogany
C. l. nothovar.  intercedens C.K. Schneid. 
C. l. var.  intermontanus N.H. Holmgren
C. l. var.  ledifolius
C. l. var.  intricatus (S. Watson) M.E. Jones – little-leaf mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus minutiflorus Abrams – smooth mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus Raf. –  alder-leaf mountain mahogany
C. m. var.  argenteus (Rydb.)  F.L. Martin – silver mountain mahogany
C. m. var.  montanus 
Cercocarpus traskiae Eastw. –  Catalina Island mountain mahogany

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment - Cercocarpus

 
Category:Rosaceae genera