{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{Speciesbox | name = Mountain mahogany | image = Cercocarpus betuloides blancheae.JPG | image_caption = var. ''blancheae'' in fruit | genus = Cercocarpus | species = betuloides | authority = Nutt. 1840 |synonyms_ref = <ref>[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/rjp-4896 The Plant List, ''Cercocarpus montanus'' var. ''glaber'' (S.Watson) F.L.Martin]</ref> | synonyms = ''Cercocarpus montanus'' var. ''glaber'' (S. Watson) F.L. Martin | range_map = Cercocarpus betuloides range map 3.png | range_map_caption = Natural range of ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' }}

'''''Cercocarpus betuloides''''' is a shrub or small tree in the rose family.<ref name=FPSMM>Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, Nancy Dale,2nd Ed, 2000, p. 170</ref> Its common names include '''mountain mahogany''' and '''birch leaf mountain mahogany'''<ref name=FPSMM/><ref>[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Cercocarpus+betuloides Calflora taxon report, University of California, ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' Torrey & A. GrayMountain mahogany, birch leaf mountain mahogany] . accessed 2.28.2015</ref> The common name "mahogany" comes from the hardness and color of the wood, although the genus is not a true mahogany.<ref name=FPSMM/><!--There is no "mahogany family"-->

==Description==

===Growth pattern=== ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' is a shrub or small tree growing from {{convert|3 to 30|ft|m}}.<ref name=FPSMM/><ref>Abrams, L. (1951). ''Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States''. Stanford University Press. 874 pages {{ISBN|0-8047-0004-4}}</ref> 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.<ref>Hogan, C. M. (2008). [http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=84109&lang=us Toyon (''Heteromeles arbutifolia'').] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719220426/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=84109&lang=us |date=July 19, 2009 }} GlobalTwitcher, ed. N. Stromberg.</ref>

===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.<ref name=FPSMM/>

''Betula'' is the birch genus, and the species name refers to the birch-like leaves.<ref name=FPSMM/>

===Inflorescence and fruit=== The white flowers are small, clustered, and mildly scented, similar to acacia.<ref name=FPSMM/>

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:<ref name=grin>{{GRIN | accessdate = 16 January 2018}}</ref><ref name=cf>[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=1878 ''Cercocarpus betuloides''.] CalFlora.</ref> *''Cercocarpus betuloides'' var. ''betuloides'', rangewide *''Cercocarpus betuloides'' var. ''blancheae'' &ndash; '''Catalina mahogany''', '''island mountain mahogany''', limited to California, especially the Channel Islands<ref name="jeps-blanch">[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=56210 ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' var. ''blancheae''.] The Jepson Manual, 2012.</ref><ref name="cf-blanch">[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Cercocarpus+betuloides+var.+blancheae&one=T ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' var. ''blancheae''.] CalFlora.</ref> *''Cercocarpus betuloides'' var. ''macrourus'' &ndash; '''few flowered mountain mahogany''', California and Oregon<ref name="jeps-mac">[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Cercocarpus+betuloides+var.+macrourus&one=T ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' var. ''macrourus''.] The Jepson Manual, 2012.</ref><ref name="cf-mac">[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Cercocarpus+betuloides+var.+macrourus&one=T ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' var. ''macrourus''.] CalFlora.</ref>

''Cercocarpus betuloides'' is sometimes treated as a part of ''Cercocarpus montanus'',<ref name=ns>[http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Cercocarpus+betuloides ''Cercocarpus montanus''.] NatureServe. 2012.</ref> var. ''glaber'' in particular.<ref name=usda>[http://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile?symbol=CEMOG ''Cercocarpus montanus'' var. ''glaber''.] USDA PLANTS . accessed 2.28.2015</ref>

== Distribution and habitat == The plant is native to California, Baja California, Oregon, Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico.<ref>[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Cercocarpus%20betuloides.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map]</ref> It typically grows in summer dry areas of the foothills and mountains of California, often in chaparral communities.<ref name="FPSMM" />

== Ecology == Deer, cattle and sheep browse the plant.<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitney |first=Stephen |url=https://archive.org/details/westernforests00whit/page/388 |title=Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides) |date=1985 |publisher=Knopf |isbn=0-394-73127-1 |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/westernforests00whit/page/388 388]}}</ref>

== Uses == The reddish{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} 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.<ref name="FPSMM" />

''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.<ref>[http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/193--cercocarpus-betuloides Las Pilitas Horticulture Database: ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' (Mountain Mahogany)] . accessed 2.28.2015</ref><ref>[http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CEMOG Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network−NPIN: ''Cercocarpus montanus'' var. ''glaber'' (Smooth mountain mahogany)] . accessed 2.28.2015</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== {{commons category|Cercocarpus betuloides|position=left}} *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6677,6695,6696 Jepson Manual Treatment — ''Cercocarpus betuloides''] *[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Cercocarpus+betuloides Calflora taxon report, University of California: ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' (Mountain mahogany, birch leaf mountain mahogany)] *[http://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile?symbol=CEMOG United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile for ''Cercocarpus montanus'' var. ''glaber'' (birchleaf mountain mahogany)] *[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?where-taxon=Cercocarpus+betuloides&where-anno=1 ''Cercocarpus betuloides'' — Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2946567}}

betuloides Category:Flora of Baja California Category:Flora of the Western United States Category:Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Category:Flora of the Cascade Range Category:Flora of the Klamath Mountains Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Category:Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Category:Natural history of the Channel Islands of California Category:Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Category:Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains Category:Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Category:Plants described in 1840 Category:Drought-tolerant plants Category:Garden plants of North America Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status