Cercocarpus ledifolius

Cercocarpus ledifolius is a large, densely branching tree which can reach heights of {{convert|11|m|abbr=off}}, although it is not uncommon to find the adult plant as a shrub as short as {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}}. Its leathery, sticky, dark green leaves are up to {{convert|4|cm|abbr=off|frac=2}} long and lance-shaped, and the edges may curl under. The flower consists of a small tan tube from which protrudes a long, plumelike style covered in luxuriant tan hairs. The flowers are arranged in inflorescences of up to 3. The fruit is a hairy achene .5–1 cm long.

Cercocarpus ledifolius is slow-growing, sometimes taking up to a century to reach full height. The oldest specimens are thought to be around 1,350 years old, although the primary specimen that yielded this estimate was cut down.{{cite journal|last1=Schultz|first1=W.|first2=P.T.|last2=Tueller|first3=R.J.|last3=Tausch|year=1990|title=Ecology of curlleaf mahogany in western and central Nevada: community and population structure|journal=Journal of Range Management|volume=43|issue=1|pages=13–20|url=http://www.ag.unr.edu/GBEM/Publications/schultz_90_JRM_Ecology_curly_leaf_mahogany_NV_community_population_structure.pdf|doi=10.2307/3899112|jstor=3899112|access-date=2008-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620043354/http://www.ag.unr.edu/GBEM/Publications/schultz_90_JRM_Ecology_curly_leaf_mahogany_NV_community_population_structure.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-20|url-status=dead|hdl=10150/644849|hdl-access=free}} This makes it one of the longest-lived known flowering plants.

The species is widespread across much of the Western United States as well as Baja California in Mexico.[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Cercocarpus%20ledifolius.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map][http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250100038 Flora of North America, Cercocarpus ledifolius Nuttall in J. Torrey and A. Gray, 1840. Curl-leaf mountain mahogany] It can be found at elevations ranging from {{convert|600 to 3,000|m|abbr=on}}, with the preferred altitude varying depending on the region. It prefers shallow, well-drained soils with a sandy or grainy consistency, and is generally found in areas which receive only {{convert|15–26|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} annual precipitation.{{Cite web |title=Cercocarpus ledifolius |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/cerled/all.html#BOTANICAL%20AND%20ECOLOGICAL%20CHARACTERISTICS |access-date=2019-05-23 |website=www.fs.fed.us}} This makes it common on low mountains and slopes,[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=1883 Calflora taxon report, University of California, Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. Desert mountainmahogany, curl leaf mountain mahogany] where it grows in scattered groves among other drought-resistant species such as pinyon pines, junipers and sagebrush.

The leaves are eaten by deer year-round.{{cite book |last=Peattie |first=Donald Culross |author-link=Donald C. Peattie |title=A Natural History of Western Trees |year=1953 |publisher=Bonanza Books |location=New York |page=525}}

The Gosiute Native Americans used the wood to make their bows. The species has many medicinal uses for various Native American groups, such as the Paiute and Shoshone.

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{{cite journal|last1=Schultz|first1=W.|first2=P.T.|last2=Tueller|first3=R.J.|last3=Tausch|year=1990|title=Ecology of curlleaf mahogany in western and central Nevada: community and population structure|journal=Journal of Range Management|volume=43|issue=1|pages=13–20|url=http://www.ag.unr.edu/GBEM/Publications/schultz_90_JRM_Ecology_curly_leaf_mahogany_NV_community_population_structure.pdf|doi=10.2307/3899112|jstor=3899112|access-date=2008-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620043354/http://www.ag.unr.edu/GBEM/Publications/schultz_90_JRM_Ecology_curly_leaf_mahogany_NV_community_population_structure.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-20|url-status=dead|hdl=10150/644849|hdl-access=free}}

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• [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=18738 Jepson Manual Treatment of Cercocarpus ledifolius]
• [http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Cercocarpus ledifolius.pdf United States Department of Agriculture IITF description; Cercocarpus ledifolius]
• [http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Cercocarpus+ledifolius Ethnobotany, University of Michigan]
• {{CalPhotos|Cercocarpus|ledifolius}}

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ledifolius

Category:Trees of Northern America

Category:Plants used in traditional Native American medicine

Category:Plants described in 1840

Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status