Cercocarpus betuloides

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

Description

Growth pattern

Cercocarpus betuloides is a shrub or small tree growing from 3 to 30 feet (0.91 to 9.14 m).^[2][4] 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.^[5]

Leaves and stems

The leaves are distinctive in that they have smooth edges from the base to about halfway 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

There are three varieties:^[6][7]

• Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides, rangewide
• Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheae – Catalina mahogany, island mountain mahogany, limited to California, especially the Channel Islands^[8][9]
• Cercocarpus betuloides var. macrourus – few flowered mountain mahogany, California and Oregon^[10][11]

Cercocarpus betuloides is sometimes treated as a part of Cercocarpus montanus,^[12] var. glaber in particular.^[13]

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to California, Baja California, Oregon, Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico.^[14] It typically grows in summer dry areas of the foothills and mountains of California, often in chaparral communities.^[2]

Ecology

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

Uses

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]