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. ledifolius Nutt.

CURL-LEAF MOUNTAIN-MAHOGANY

Shrub or tree 1–10 m, much-branched
Leaf: petiole 0–6 mm; blade 1–4 cm, narrowly (ob)lanceolate, resinous, entire, inrolled or plane, glabrous to densely woolly below
Inflorescence: flowers 1–3, axillary, ± sessile
Flower: stamens 15–25, anthers glabrous; style exserted, stigma straight
Fruit 4–13 mm
Ecology: Deep soils, rocky slopes
Elevation: 1200–2800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountain Area, Transverse Ranges, n Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Montana, Arizona, Baja California
Hybridizes with C. intricatus.

Native

var. intermontanus N.H. Holmgren

Plant < 8 m; trunk < 8 dm diam
Leaf: petiole < 6 mm; blade 1–4 cm, ± elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous to sparsely woolly below, midrib and veins visible
Flower: hypanthium 5.5–9 mm, 6–10 mm in fruit, rim 4–5 mm diam
Fruit 8–13 mm; style 4–7 cm
Chromosomes: 2nn=18.
Ecology: Pinyon/juniper woodland, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1500–2800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountain Area, Transverse Ranges, n Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, Baja California
Hybrids with C. intricatus are var. intercedens C.K. Schneid.
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 1, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17 &IRR: 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.