Cercocarpus intricatus
Encyclopedia
Cercocarpus intricatus is a species of flowering plant known by the common name littleleaf mountain mahogany.
, from California
to Colorado
, where it grows in mostly dry habitat such as desert, mountain slopes, plateau, and woodland.
spreading and growing erect to heights between one and three meters. The many short gray twigs on the branches bear tiny, widely spaced evergreen leaves. Each thick, short leaf is a centimeter long or less, rolled under at the edges, and leathery in texture. The inflorescence
has two or three flowers. Each flower is a tiny cup just a few millimeters wide containing several protruding stamen
s and one pistil
. The style remains after the rest of the flower falls away. It is feathery and up to 2 centimeters long, with the fruit, an achene
, at the tip.
Distribution
Cercocarpus intricatus is native to the Southwestern United StatesSouthwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
, from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where it grows in mostly dry habitat such as desert, mountain slopes, plateau, and woodland.
Description
Cercocarpus intricatus is a thickly branched shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
spreading and growing erect to heights between one and three meters. The many short gray twigs on the branches bear tiny, widely spaced evergreen leaves. Each thick, short leaf is a centimeter long or less, rolled under at the edges, and leathery in texture. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
has two or three flowers. Each flower is a tiny cup just a few millimeters wide containing several protruding stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s and one pistil
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
. The style remains after the rest of the flower falls away. It is feathery and up to 2 centimeters long, with the fruit, an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
, at the tip.