About Cercocarpus montanus Raf.
Cercocarpus montanus Raf. is also commonly called alder-leaf mountain-mahogany. Due to browsing by elk and deer, it usually stays under 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall, though it can reach 6.1 metres (20 feet) when unimpeded. It has thin, smooth bark, and is classified as a long-lived species. Its foliage and tissues are consumed by yellow-haired porcupines. In terms of distribution, Cercocarpus montanus is common in chaparral scrub, mesas, lower Rocky Mountain foothills, and the Great Plains of the United States. Its range stretches from Montana, Idaho, and South Dakota in the north, south to Sonora, Durango, and Nuevo León in northern Mexico. In cultivation, alder-leaf mountain-mahogany is sometimes grown as a drought-tolerant garden plant, especially within its native range. It stays relatively unobtrusive through most seasons, but is known for the attractive appearance of its seeds in autumn. Wildflower writer Claude A. Barr noted that the shiny hairs on the curled plumes attached to the seeds are particularly striking when viewed in sunlight.
