Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Automatic taxobox

Cercocarpus, commonly known as mountain mahogany, is a small genus of at least nine species of nitrogen-fixing<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae. They are native to the western United States and northern Mexico, where they grow in chaparral and semidesert habitats and climates, often at high altitudes. Several are found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion.

File:Cercocarpus intricatus 13.jpg
Cercocarpus intricatus, Spring Mountains, southern Nevada (elevation about 2700 m)

The classification of Cercocarpus within the Rosaceae has been unclear.<ref>Morgan, D.R., et al. (1994). Systematic and evolutionary implications of rbcL sequence variation in Rosaceae. American Journal of Botany. 81(7): 890–903.</ref><ref>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.</ref> The genus has been placed in the subfamily Rosoideae, but is now placed in subfamily Dryadoideae.<ref>Potter, D., et al. (2007). Phylogeny and classification of Rosaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(1–2): 5–43.</ref>

Members of the genus are deciduous shrubs or small trees, 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 words κέρκος (kerkos), meaning "tail" and καρπός (karpos), meaning "fruit". It refers to the tail-like plume on the fruits.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

TaxonomyEdit

SpeciesEdit

Cercocarpus comprises the following species:<ref name="PlantList">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="POWO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ITIS">{{#if:25131 | {{#invoke:template wrapper|wrap|_template=cite web|_exclude=id,ID,taxon

 | url = https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=25131
 | title = Cercocarpus
 | publisher = Integrated Taxonomic Information System
 }}

| Template:Citation error }}</ref><ref name="GRINSpecies">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="USDA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Species names with uncertain taxonomic statusEdit

The status of the following species and hybrids is unresolved:<ref name="PlantList"/> Template:Div col

  • Cercocarpus antiquus Lesq.
  • Cercocarpus arizonicus M.E.Jones
  • Cercocarpus betulaefolius C.K.Schneid.
  • Cercocarpus betulaefolius Nutt. ex Hook.
  • Cercocarpus breviflorus S.Watson
  • Cercocarpus cuneatus Dorf
  • Cercocarpus fothergilloides Torr.
  • Cercocarpus harneyensis C.A.Arnold
  • Cercocarpus macrophyllus C.K.Schneid.
  • Cercocarpus miniscalchii (A.Massal.) Principi
  • Cercocarpus orestesi Knowlt.
  • Cercocarpus pallidus Wooton
  • Cercocarpus parviflorus Wooton
  • Cercocarpus parvifolius Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.
  • Cercocarpus praefoliolosa R.W.Br.
  • Cercocarpus praeledifolius E.W.Berry
  • Cercocarpus ravenscragensis E.W.Berry
  • Cercocarpus treleasei C.K.Schneid.

Template:Div col end

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control