Practical
Plants

Cercocarpus ledifolius

Mountain Mahogany

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cercocarpus genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
8 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The scraped bark makes a flavourful addition to a brew of Mormon tea (Ephedra spp.)[1].

Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Mountain mahogany was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints[4]. It is virtually not used in modern herbalism. The bark is antihaemorrhagic, cardiac, stomachic and tonic[4]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of coughs and colds, pneumonia, spitting up of blood, stomach aches, diarrhoea (including for children), tuberculosis and VD[4]. A poultice of the green powdered wood has been applied to sores, cuts, wounds and burns[4]. It has also been sprinkled on syphilitic sores[4]. An exudation from the plant has been dried, ground into a powder and applied to the ear to treat earaches[4].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
TB
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
VD

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red dye is obtained from the inner bark[4]. The wood is extremely hard and so dense that it will not float in water[3]. It is also brittle[5]. It makes an excellent fuel, giving off intense heat whilst burning for a long time[3]. It is occasionally used in the manufacture of small articles for domestic and industrial use[5].

Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Western N. America - Washington to California, west to Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico.
Habitat
Dry gravelly arid slopes in the mountain ranges of the interior regions, 1500 - 2700 metres[5][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure, drought
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a position in full sun in a perfectly draining soil[2]. Succeeds in dry soils. Tolerates maritime exposure[2]. Some forms of this species are hardy to about -17°c[2]. A slow-growing tree or large shrub, it is not a true evergreen, but its leaves persist over winter and do not fall until after the new leaves are growing[3]. Some members of this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[2].

References

  1. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  3. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  5. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

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