# Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany (*Cercocarpus ledifolius*) The Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany is a special shrub that grows in rocky mountain areas. Its leaves curl up, making it look unique and helping it survive in tough weather. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cercocarpus_ledifolius_8219.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Wsiegmund assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cercocarpus_ledifolius_8219.jpg) ## Appearance The Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany is an evergreen shrub or small tree with distinctively small, dark green, leathery leaves that curl downwards along their edges. Its bark is reddish-brown, and it produces inconspicuous flowers followed by unique fruits with long, feathery, twisted tails. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Cercocarpus ## Interesting facts - It loves growing on steep, rocky mountainsides where most other plants struggle to survive! - Its wood is so hard, it's one of the toughest native woods in North America! - Some Curlleaf Mountain Mahoganies can live for over 1000 years, making them ancient plant elders! - The seeds have a twisted feather-like tail that helps them fly away like tiny helicopters! ## Special abilities - **Water Saver:** Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany has deeply curled, small leaves that help it conserve water in dry mountain environments. - **Deep Root Dive:** Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany can grow incredibly deep roots to find water far below the surface in rocky soils. - **Hard Wood Armor:** Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany has extremely dense, strong wood that helps it resist damage from wind and fire. - **Wind Wanderer Seeds:** Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany produces seeds with long, feathery tails, allowing them to travel far on the wind. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-900 cm - **Spread:** 200-700 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Important winter browse for deer. - **Eaten by:** [Elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — Leaves and twigs are a food source. - **Shelter:** [Least Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/least-chipmunk) (*Neotamias minimus*) — Provides cover and nesting sites. - **Shelter:** [Dark-eyed Junco](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dark-eyed-junco) (*Junco hyemalis*) — Offers protective cover for birds. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't eat any part of this plant without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany? 300-900 cm ### How wide does Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany spread? 200-700 cm ### How big are the flowers on Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany edible? No ### Is Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany toxic? None ### What is Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bighorn-canyon-national-recreation-area) — Montana, US · National Park - [Sierra Safari Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sierra-safari-zoo) — Nevada, US · Zoo - [Lehman Orchard and Aqueduct](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lehman-orchard-and-aqueduct) — Nevada, US · Historic District - [Old National Park Service Housing Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-national-park-service-housing-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District [View all places to see Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/curlleaf-mountain-mahogany) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/curlleaf-mountain-mahogany)