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Cercocarpus montanus

Accession Count: 0

Common Name: birch leaf mountain mahogany

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Family Name: Rosaceae

Botanical Name: Cercocarpus montanus

Synonyms:

Botanical Synonyms: Cercocarpus betuloides, Cercocarpus douglasii

Sub Species:

Variety: glaber

Forma:

Cultivar:

Characteristics: Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber is an evergreen, flowering shrub that grows 3-5 meters tall (1) with whitish-gray bark and dark red wood (2). It has the ability to fix nitrogen, and produces roots that extend to a depth of 1.7 meters (3). Leaves are simple, rounded, and alternate, with distinctive serrated leaf margins extending from the middle to the top of each leaf, resembling a birch leaf. Leaves are dark green on the top, and white with soft hairs on the lower leaf surface (2). It exhibits sun-tracking, such that the leaves maintain vertical orientation and rotate toward the sun throughout the day (4). In addition, leaves shrink in size during times of drought, and increase in area when grown in shady locations (2). The flowers are perfect, white, clustered, and mildly fragrant (2). These eventually form a tubular achene with a long feathery style (1). Each fruit contains a single seed.

Compound: Cer mon gla

Geographic Origin: Mountain Southwest

Ecozone Origin: Nearctic

Biome Origin:

Natural History: In the wild, it is found in washes and dry slopes below 1,846 m, ranging in distribution from southwestern Oregon (5) to Baja California.

Cultivation Notes: Due to nitrogen fixation nodules and ectomycorrhizal facilitation of phosphorus uptake, this plant is well adapted to nutrient-poor soils (11). It also tolerates a wide range of soil pH (5.0-8.0), the distinct challenges of serpentine soils, loamy and sandy-soil textures, drought conditions and wash-environments, and even good salinity/seaside tolerance (12), (13), (5). Cold is tolerated to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and it persists in Hardiness Zones 5-9 (13). Although little water is needed, supplemental summer waterings help maintain aesthetics in cultivated landscapes. Propagation is done via seed, and seedlings are only at risk until the first growing season, where stress can stunt young plants irreparably (5). However, after this time, it shows very fast growth until the first 5 or 6 years, when growth patterns slow to moderate (5) . Additionally, this shrub is forgiving toward pruning, including coppicing, with only moderate risk of perishing from pruning stress (10). When planting, take into account that the achenes cause mild skin irritation and can create litter during fruiting season (summer) (13).

Ethnobotany: This plant has many uses in landscaping, including as revegetation of native areas, to attract hummingbirds or bees (10), and to stabilize banks (12). It has been used as a browse species for Bighorn Sheep and Mule Deer, especially in mountainous environments (4). In addition, Native American and Mexican tribes have used the wood for hunting spears and arrows, and the entire plant for many medicinal purposes. The bark is antihemorrhagic, stomachic, and tonic; and when boiled, can be used to treat diarrhea, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and many other ailments. A poultice of the wood has been used to treat wounds, and an exudation for ear-aches. Spanish New-Mexicans additionally used twigs of this plant as a repellant for bed-bugs, and culturally, leaves that had been browsed by deer were chewed by hunters in order to bring good luck. Other uses include as dye, and crafting materials made from the inner bark (14).

Height: 11 - 15 feet

Width: 11 - 15 feet

Growth Rate: Moderate Growing

Grow Season:

Flower Season: Spring

Color: White

Function: Screen

Spread: Spreading

Allergen: Allergenic

Invasive: Benign

Toxicity: Toxic

Hardy: Hardy

Water Use: Low water Use

Citations:

1.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"=""> i Naturalist. Retrieved February 17^th, 2020.

2. Santa Monica Trails Mountains Trails Council. Retrieved February 12^th, 2020.

3. California State University, Bakersfield. Retrieved February 12^th, 2020.

4. Schoenherr, A. (1992). A Natural History of California: Second Edition. University of California.

5. U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved February 17^th, 2020.

6. San Diego Flora. Retrieved February 12^th, 2020.

7. Trees of Stanford. Retrieved February 12^th, 2020.

8. Martin, Floyd (1950). A Revision of Cercocarpus. New York Botanical Garden Press.

9. Rydberg, P.A. (1914). Notes on Rosaceae 8. Torrey Botanical Society.

10. Inland Valley Garden Planner. Retrieved February 12^th, 2020.

11. Modesto Junior College. Retrieved February 17^th, 2020.

12. California Native Plant Society. Retrieved February 17^th, 2020.

13. Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute. Retrieved February 17^th, 2020.