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Cercocarpus ledifolius - Nutt. ex Torr.&A.Gray.

Common Name Mountain Mahogany, Curl-leaf mountain mahogany
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry gravelly arid slopes in the mountain ranges of the interior regions, 1500 - 2700 metres[82, 229].
Range Western N. America - Washington to California, west to Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Cercocarpus ledifolius Mountain Mahogany, Curl-leaf mountain mahogany


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund
Cercocarpus ledifolius Mountain Mahogany, Curl-leaf mountain mahogany
Sheri Hagwood @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Cercocarpus ledifolius is an evergreen Tree growing to 8 m (26ft 3in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Tea

The scraped bark makes a flavourful addition to a brew of Mormon tea (Ephedra spp.)[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Cardiac  Haemostatic  Poultice  Stomachic  TB  Tonic  VD

Mountain mahogany was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints[257]. It is virtually not used in modern herbalism. The bark is antihaemorrhagic, cardiac, stomachic and tonic[257]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of coughs and colds, pneumonia, spitting up of blood, stomach aches, diarrhoea (including for children), tuberculosis and VD[257]. A poultice of the green powdered wood has been applied to sores, cuts, wounds and burns[257]. It has also been sprinkled on syphilitic sores[257]. An exudation from the plant has been dried, ground into a powder and applied to the ear to treat earaches[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fodder  Fuel  Wood

A red dye is obtained from the inner bark[257]. The wood is extremely hard and so dense that it will not float in water[229]. It is also brittle[82]. It makes an excellent fuel, giving off intense heat whilst burning for a long time[229]. It is occasionally used in the manufacture of small articles for domestic and industrial use[82].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Fodder: Bank  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

Requires a position in full sun in a perfectly draining soil[200]. Succeeds in dry soils. Tolerates maritime exposure[200]. Some forms of this species are hardy to about -17°c[200]. A slow-growing tree or large shrub, it is not a true evergreen, but its leaves persist over winter and do not fall until after the new leaves are growing[229]. Some members of this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
  • Fodder: Bank  Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Colorado (west), Idaho, Montana (s. & w.), Oregon (east), Washington (southeast), Wyoming (west), Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cercocarpus montanusMountain Mahogany, Alderleaf mountain mahogany, Silver mountain mahogany, Island mountain mahogany,Shrub4.0 6-7 MLMHNDM013

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Nutt. ex Torr.&A.Gray.

Botanical References

82200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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