Cercocarpus breviflorus

Cercocarpus breviflorus, commonly known as desert mountain mahogany or hairy mountain mahogany, is a species of plant in the rose family, Rosaceae, and is native to the southwestern United States.

Description

Cercocarpus breviflorus is an evergreen tree or large shrub growing to about 5 metres (16 ft) tall, often with several branches springing from the base. The small leaves are oblong to oblanceolate, up to 2 cm (1 in) long, pubescent and entire apart from a few weak teeth near the apex. They are fasciclate, with groups of two to four leaves forming small tufts separated by lengths of bare twig. The yellowish-green tubed flowers are inconspicuous and grow from the axils of the leaves. The fruits are achenes with twisted, hairy, elongated and persistent styles.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

Hairy mountain mahogany occurs in mountainous parts of the southwestern United States, including Texas and New Mexico, on both limestone and igneous rock.^[2]

Ecology

Hairy mountain mahogany grows at moderately high elevations, often in the company of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis), alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana), one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), cliff fendlerbush (Fendlera rupicola), wavyleaf oak (Quercus undulata), antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) and skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata).^[3] The branches are often heavily encrusted with lichens.^[1]

References