ROSACEAE

ROSE FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves simple to pinnately to palmately compound, generally alternate; stipules free to fused, persistent to deciduous
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium free or fused to ovary, saucer- to funnel-shaped, often with bractlets alternate with sepals; sepals generally 5; petals generally 5, free; stamens (0)5–many, pistils (0)1–many, simple or compound; ovary superior to inferior, styles 1–5
Fruit: achene, follicle, drupe, pome, or blackberry- to raspberry-like
Seeds generally 1–5
Genera in family: 110 genera, ± 3000 species: worldwide, especially temp. Many cultivated for ornamental and fruit, especially Cotoneaster , Fragaria , Malus , Prunus , Pyracantha, Rosa , and Rubus
Reference: [Robertson 1974 J Arnold Arbor 55:303–332,344–401,611–662]
Family description, key to genera by Barbara Ertter and Dieter H. Wilken.

CERCOCARPUS

MOUNTAIN-MAHOGANY

Richard Lis

Shrub or small tree, evergreen
Stem: trunk < 80 cm diam; bark generally gray to reddish brown; twigs short
Leaves generally clustered, simple; stipules often deciduous; blade ± thin to leathery, entire to toothed, upper surface generally ± glabrous
Inflorescence: clusters; flowers 1–12
Flower: hypanthium funnel-like, tube persistent in fruit, rim cup-like, deciduous; petals 0; stamens 10–45, in 2–3 rows on hypanthium rim, anthers glabrous or hairy; pistil 1, free from hypanthium tube, ovary superior, 1-ovuled, style terminal, persistent in fruit, straight or becoming twisted, plumose
Fruit: achene, cylindric, hairy, included in hypanthium
Species in genus: 13 species: w North America, Mex
Etymology: (Greek: tailed fruit)
Reference: [Lis 1992 Int J Plant Sci 153:258–272]

Native

C. traskiae Eastw.

CATALINA ISLAND MOUNTAIN-MAHOGANY

Tree 3–8 m; branches spreading to erect
Leaf: petiole 2–10 mm; blade 2–6 cm, elliptic to (ob)ovate, thick-leathery, ± serrate or crenate, white-woolly below; lateral veins 6–10
Inflorescence: flowers 4–10; pedicel 0–5 mm, 5–7 mm in fruit
Flower: hypanthium 7–14 mm, white-tomentose, rim 4–7 mm diam; stamens 20–40, anthers hairy; style exserted, stigma ± hook-like
Fruit 10–13 mm; style 4–6 cm
Ecology: Dry, rocky soils
Elevation: 100–250 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Channel Islands (Santa Catalina Island)
Synonyms: C. betuloides var. t. (Eastw.) Dunkle
7 plants surviving in 1990
Horticultural information: In cultivation.