Английская Википедия:Cercocarpus betuloides

Материал из Онлайн справочника
Перейти к навигацииПерейти к поиску

Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Speciesbox

Cercocarpus betuloides is a shrub or small tree in the rose family.[1] Its common names include mountain mahogany and birch leaf mountain mahogany[1][2] The common name "mahogany" comes from the hardness and color of the wood, although the genus is not a true mahogany.[1]

Range and habitat

The plant is native to California, Baja California, Oregon, Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico.[3] It typically grows in summer dry areas of the foothills and mountains of California, often in chaparral communities.[1]

Description

Growth pattern

Cercocarpus betuloides is a shrub or small tree growing from Шаблон:Convert to Шаблон:Convert.[1][4] 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.[5]

Leaves and stems

The leaves are distinctive in that they have smooth edges from the base to about half way up, then are wavy or toothed to the rounded tip.[1]

Betula is the birch genus, and the species name refers to the birch-like leaves.[1]

Inflorescence and fruit

The white flowers are small, clustered, and mildly scented, similar to acacia.[1]

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

Varieties

There are three varieties:[6][7]

  • Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides, rangewide
  • Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheaeCatalina mahogany, island mountain mahogany, limited to California, especially the Channel Islands[8][9]
  • Cercocarpus betuloides var. macrourusfew flowered mountain mahogany, California and Oregon[10][11]

Cercocarpus betuloides is sometimes treated as a part of Cercocarpus montanus,[12] var. glaber in particular.[13]

Uses

Deer, cattle and sheep browse the plant.[14]

The reddish Шаблон:Citation needed 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.[1]

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.[15][16]

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

Шаблон:Taxonbar