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mountain mahogany

Scientific Name: Cercocarpus

Family: Rosaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.)

Mountain Mahogany, belonging to the genus Cercocarpus, encompasses several species of shrubs or small trees native to western North America. They are known for their hard wood and attractive foliage, making them suitable for various landscaping purposes.

Considerations for Pets

  • Mountain Mahogany fruit is a tiny, hard seed topped by a feathery tail.
  • Leaves are small and alternate, but commonly grow on spur shoots.

Considerations for Children

  • Mountain Mahogany fruit is a tiny, hard seed topped by a feathery tail.
  • Leaves are small and alternate, but commonly grow on spur shoots.

Quirky Facts

  • The common name, "Mountain Mahogany," refers to the hard, dense wood of these plants, but they are not related to the tropical mahogany trees.
  • Mountain Mahogany fruit have a feathery tail that is considered elegant in its simplicity.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cercocarpus spp.
  • Common Names: Mountain Mahogany, Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany, Birch Leaf Mountain Mahogany
  • Family: Rosaceae (Rose family)
  • Genus: Cercocarpus
  • Synonyms: Cercocarpus montanus Raf.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Mountain Mahogany species are found in western North America, including Oregon, California, and east to the Rocky Mountains.
  • Specifically mentioned locations include the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Utah, and the Wasatch Mountains of Central Utah.
  • They thrive in dry, gravelly, and arid habitats at altitudes ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet.

Ecological Role

  • Mountain Mahogany is a nitrogen-fixing plant.
  • Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany provides good winter browse for deer.
  • It is a dominant species in some shrubland vegetation communities alongside serviceberry and Gambel oak.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Mountain Mahogany is typically a shrub or small deciduous or evergreen tree, reaching heights of up to 12 feet (4 meters), with some varieties growing larger, up to 20 ft.
  • The bark is grayish and scaly.
  • Leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate, evergreen and small (1/2" to 1" long), often borne on short spur shoots.
  • The fruit is a tiny, hard seed topped with a feathery tail (awn).
  • The whole plant may appear silvery in late summer.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • It provides winter browse for deer.