Cercocarpus, commonly known as mountain mahogany, is a small genus of at least nine species of Frankia
The classification of Cercocarpus within the Rosaceae has been unclear.[Morgan, D.R., et al. (1994). Systematic and evolutionary implications of rbcL sequence variation in Rosaceae. American Journal of Botany. 81(7): 890–903.][Eriksson, T., et al. (2003). The phylogeny of Rosoideae (Rosaceae) based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the trnL/F region of chloroplast DNA. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 164: 197–211.] The genus has been placed in the subfamily Rosoideae, but is now placed in subfamily Dryadoideae.[Potter, D., et al. (2007). Phylogeny and classification of Rosaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(1–2): 5–43.]
Members of the genus are deciduous or small , typically reaching heights of 3–6 m (9–18 ft) tall, but exceptionally up to 13 m (40 ft) high. C. montanus usually remains under 1 m (3 ft) high because of incessant grazing by elk and deer.
The name is derived from the Greek language words κέρκος ( kerkos), meaning "tail" and καρπός ( karpos), meaning "fruit". It refers to the tail-like plume on the fruits.
Taxonomy
Species
Cercocarpus comprises the following species:
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Cercocarpus betuloides Nutt. – birch-leaf mountain mahogany
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var. betuloides Nutt.
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var. blancheae (C.K. Schneid.) Little – island mountain mahogany
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var. traskiae (Eastw.) Dunkle – Catalina Island mountain mahogany
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Cercocarpus breviflorus A. Gray – hairy mountain mahogany
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Cercocarpus douglasii Rydb.
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Cercocarpus fothergilloides Kunth
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var. fothergilloides Kunth
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var. mojadensis (C.K. Schneid.) Henrickson
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Cercocarpus intricatus S.Watson
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Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray – curl-leaf mountain mahogany
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Cercocarpus macrophyllus C.K.Schneid.
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Cercocarpus mexicanus Henrard
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Cercocarpus mojadensis C.K.Schneid.
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Cercocarpus montanus Raf.
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var. argenteus (Rydb.) F.L.Martin – silver mountain mahogany
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var. glaber (S.Watson) F.L.Martin
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var. macrourus (Rydb.) F.L.Martin
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var. minutiflorus (Abrams) F.L.Martin – smooth mountain mahogany
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var. montanus Raf. – alder-leaf mountain mahogany
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var. paucidentatus (S.Watson) F.L.Martin
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Cercocarpus pringlei (C.K.Schneid.) Rydb.
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Cercocarpus rotundifolius Rydb.
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Cercocarpus rzedowskii Henrard
Species names with uncertain taxonomic status
The status of the following species and hybrids is unresolved:
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Cercocarpus antiquus Lesq.
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Cercocarpus arizonicus M.E.Jones
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Cercocarpus betulaefolius C.K.Schneid.
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Cercocarpus betulaefolius Nutt. ex Hook.
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Cercocarpus breviflorus S.Watson
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Cercocarpus cuneatus Dorf
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Cercocarpus fothergilloides Torr.
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Cercocarpus harneyensis C.A.Arnold
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Cercocarpus macrophyllus C.K.Schneid.
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Cercocarpus miniscalchii (A.Massal.) Principi
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Cercocarpus orestesi Knowlt.
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Cercocarpus pallidus Wooton
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Cercocarpus parviflorus Wooton
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Cercocarpus parvifolius Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.
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Cercocarpus praefoliolosa R.W.Br.
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Cercocarpus praeledifolius E.W.Berry
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Cercocarpus ravenscragensis E.W.Berry
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Cercocarpus treleasei C.K.Schneid.
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