Cercocarpus ledifolius
in J. Torrey and A. Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 427. 1840.
Shrubs or trees, (5–)10–85 dm, moderately to strongly branched distally. Stems: long-shoot internodes 4–22 mm, sericeous-villous to hirsute-pilose, rarely glabrous, glabrescent; short shoots (1–)2–55 × 1–3.4 mm. Leaves persistent or ± drought-deciduous; stipules 1–3.8 mm; petiole 0.4–6 mm; blade linear, linear-lanceolate, lanceolate, lance-elliptic, or elliptic-ovate, (3–)5–48 × 1–11 mm, stiffly coriaceous, base cuneate, margins weakly to strongly revolute, entire, thickened, apex acute, apiculate-mucronate to obtuse-rounded, abaxial surface initially sericeous or villous (sometimes strongly so), sometimes glabrescent, areoles closely canescent, adaxial sericeous, hirsute, or villous, glabrescent. Flowers 1–10 per short shoot; hypanthial tubes densely to loosely sericeous, villous, or with indument of coiled ascending hairs; hypanthial cups 1.5–3 × 1.8–3.5 mm; sepals (3–)5, broadly deltate, 1–2.5 mm, acute-obtuse; stamens 10–25, anthers 0.7–1.2 mm, glabrous. Achenes 6–10.5 × 0.8–1.5 mm; fruiting pedicels 0.3–1.5(–2) mm; hypanthial tubes (2.6–)3–11 mm; pedicel/tube ratio (5–)8–18(–28)%; fruit awns 3–8.5 cm, proximal setae 1.6–3.5 mm.
Distribution
w United States, nw Mexico.
Discussion
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Leaf blades (3–)5–13(–18) × 1–1.5(–2) mm, linear to linear-lanceolate (usually subterete), margins strongly revolute (central groove 0.1–0.9 mm wide on abaxial surface); shrubs. | Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intricatus |
| 1 | Leaf blades (7–)13–30(–48) × (1.5–)2–9(–11) mm, elliptic-ovate, lanceolate to linear, or lance-elliptic, margins ± revolute; shrubs or trees | > 2 |
| 2 | Leaf blades narrowly lanceolate to linear, sometimes lance-elliptic, (1.5–)2–5(–7) mm wide, margins strongly revolute; abaxial leaf surfaces usually densely villous, sometimes sericeous. | Cercocarpus ledifolius var. ledifolius |
| 2 | Leaf blades lanceolate to lance-elliptic or elliptic-ovate, (2.8–)5–9(–11) mm wide, margins revolute; abaxial leaf surfaces sericeous or closely villous (hairs not obscuring surface), glabrescent. | Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus |