mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides

Family: Rosaceae.

Type: Evergreen shrub to small tree.

Branching: Alternate.

Leaves: Leaves are reminiscent of oceanspray, which is in the same family: entire on the proximal end, toothed on the distal end. However, the leaves of the mountain mahogany are smaller and evergreen. The leaf upper surface is somewhat sticky, especially when new. The under surface is lighter and variably hirsute.

Twig: Plants in the Rosaceae family often have "short shoots" or "spurs", twigs which have internodes (year-to-year growth) so shortened that the twigs become wrinkly. Besides the mountain mahogany, this is commonly seen in apples.

Fruit & Flower: Fruits are achenes, with a long feathery tail that aids in wind dispersal.

Miscellaneous: "Betula" means birch, so its species name means that its leaves are somewhat birch-like. Found in chaparral and dry forest.





All photos and text ©2008 Ben Haller. Permission is granted to use and reproduce these photos for any non-commercial or non-profit use as long as this original copyright notice is retained.