Cercocarpus ledifoliusNutt.by Samantha Arundel

Common names: Curl-leaf mountain mahogany, curlleaf cercocarpus

Family: Rosaceae

Synonymy: none

Varieties: Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. var. intercedens Schneid, Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. var. intermontanus N. Holmgren, Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. var. ledifolius

Identification

Growth form: Shub, or small tree to 25’ (1), with one to many trunks, that typically grows in scattered patches (2).

Roots: Roots play a key role in development. Initial root growth outstrips top growth (3), and can extend its taproot into bedrock cracks (4).

Stem: Twigs are stiff, and bark is reddish brown (2).

Leaves: Simple, alternate (although sometimes appearing fascicled), blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, 1-3 cm long, 5-17 cm wide, margins entire and rolled under; dark green, becoming glabrous and lustrous, paler green and tomentose beneath; prominent midvein; sticky, resinous, and aromatic (2).

Inflorescence/flowers: Yellowish, perfect, funnel-shaped, apetalous, 4-9 cm long; 5 ovate to triangular spreading lobes. 20-30 stamens and a single pistil; the style elongates in fruit (1).

Fruit: 5-10 mm long hard, narrow, pointed achenes; feather style (4-8 cm) is persistent (2).

Ecology

Life history: Long-lived perennial (6)

Native/Introduced: Native

Phenology: April - June (1).

Distribution: Occurs throughout the Rocky Mountains and Intermountain West in open forest (6). Inhabits hills, canyons, rocky slopes and ridges at altitudes of 12-1300 m (2).

Uses

Wildlife: Important source of winter protection for mule deer (5). Browsed by livestock and deer (1), and an important source of winter protein (6). Deer mice eat the seeds (6).

Human:Very hard wood makes good fuel (2). Red dye concocted from roots (1). Gosiute Indians made bows from the wood (2). Used for water-efficient landscaping in arid environments (6).

References

1. Epple, A. O. 1995. Plants of Arizona. Falcon Publishing, Helena.

2. Stubbendieck, J., Hatch, S. L., Butterfield, C. H. 1997. NorthAmericanRange Plants, 5th Edition. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.

3. Dealy, J. E. 1978. Autecology of curlleaf mountain-mohogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius). In Hyder, D. N. ed. Proceddings, 1st international rangeland congress; 1978 August 14-18; Denver, Co. Denver, CO: Society for Range Management:398-400.

4. Jaindl, R. G., Doescher, P.S. Eddlemean, L.E. 1993. Influence of water relations on the limited expansion of Pinus monophylla into adjacent Cercocarpus ledifolius communities in the central Great Basin. Forest Science. 39(4): 639-643.

5. Schlichter, P. 2004. Wildflowers east of the Cascades [On-line]. Available:

6. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plants Database [On-line]. Available: