About Cercocarpus breviflorus A.Gray
Cercocarpus breviflorus, commonly known as hairy mountain mahogany, is an evergreen tree or large shrub that reaches around 5 metres (16 feet) in height. It often grows multiple branches that sprout from its base. Its small leaves are oblong to oblanceolate, growing up to 2 centimetres (1 inch) long. The leaves are pubescent, have mostly entire margins, with only a few weak teeth near the tip. The leaves grow in fascicles, forming small tufts of two to four leaves that are separated by sections of bare twig. The yellowish-green, tube-shaped flowers grow from leaf axils and are not prominent. Its fruits are achenes with twisted, hairy, elongated persistent styles that resemble long, narrow feathers. This species grows in mountainous regions of the southwestern United States including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, as well as northern Mexico ranging from Sonora to Tamaulipas, extending south to Querétaro. It grows on both limestone and igneous rock. Hairy mountain mahogany grows at moderately high elevations, and is often found growing alongside pinyon pine (Pinus edulis), alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana), one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), cliff fendlerbush (Fendlera rupicola), antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), wavyleaf oak (Quercus x undulata), and skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata). Its branches are frequently heavily covered in encrusting lichens.
