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You are here >1Up Info > Wildlife, Animals, and Plants > Plant Species > Shrub > Species: Ceanothus cuneatus | Wedgeleaf Ceanothus
 

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VALUE AND USE

SPECIES: Ceanothus cuneatus | Wedgeleaf Ceanothus
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : NO-ENTRY IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : Wedgeleaf ceanothus provides excellent browse and cover for a wide variety of wildlife species. Since leaves persist, it is particularly important to deer during the winter months, and in some areas 50 to 70 percent of the current growth is utilized annually [13,24,25]. Often, heavy wet snow will bend the branches of taller, older plants to within easy reach of deer [25]. Where deer utilization is heavy, browse may stay within reach of deer for 20 to 25 years [9]. Wedgeleaf ceanothus generally loses its value as a browse before stands reach 60 years of age [53]. Domestic sheep and goats feed on wedgeleaf ceanothus where available [9,55,61]. However, cattle and horses generally use this browse only when other more preferred species are scarce or absent [61,64]. Many small birds, mammals, and insects consume large numbers of wedgeleaf ceanothus seed. Seeds are important food items for many species of squirrels, the chaparral mouse, house mouse, deer mouse, California mouse, California pocket mouse, valley quail, mountain quail, and mariposa brush rabbit [39,61,66]. PALATABILITY : The foliage and twigs of wedgeleaf ceanothus are highly palatable to mule deer and black-tailed deer, and to domestic sheep and goats [25,57,64]. Tender young sprouts and seedlings are particularly relished by these animals [8,54]. Interestingly, wedgeleaf ceanothus is of relatively greater palatability to older sheep, which tend to be more selective foragers, than to the less discriminating juvenile sheep [27]. Overall palatability to cattle is low [64]. However, studies have shown that the relative palatability of wedgeleaf ceanothus to cattle, and to other species as well, may be enhanced through the application of fertilizers [24]. Seeds are highly palatable to many small mammals, birds, and insects [14]. The relish and degree of use shown by livestock and wildlife species for wedgeleaf ceanothus is rated as follows [13,64]: California Cattle poor Sheep good-fair Domestic goats good Deer fair NUTRITIONAL VALUE : Wedgeleaf ceanothus is moderately high in protein, and is an important source of vitamin A during the summer and fall when grasses have dried [55]. Overall nutritional value of wedgeleaf ceanothus varies seasonally [26,55,58]. Crude protein generally decreases as leaves mature, while crude fiber increases [55]: crude protein - % crude fiber - % young leaves 15 5.5 mature leaves 8 12.2 Mineral composition has been determined as follows [58]: average % dry weight - P S Ca Mg K .12 .11 .62 .23 .74 A number of studies have documented the specific nutritional content of wedgeleaf ceanothus by both plant part and phenological stage [26,54,58]. COVER VALUE : Wedgeleaf ceanothus provides excellent cover for many wildlife species including the valley quail, California jackrabbit, brush rabbit, and mourning dove [8,14]. Studies have shown that the preferred habitat of the chaparral mouse is under the protective branches of wedgeleaf ceanothus [39]. Many other small rodents, including the deer mouse, California mouse, house mouse, and California pocket mouse, hide, feed, and nest beneath the canopy of this shrub [39]. Plants frequently grow tall enough, and with sufficient density, to furnish good hiding cover for larger ungulates such as deer. VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : Many species within the genus Ceanothus are well suited for use in rehabilitation because of rapid growth rates and an ability to improve soil fertility through fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Some cultivars are now commercially available [19]. Wedgeleaf ceanothus has been successfully planted onto many types of disturbed sites throughout southern California and the desert Southwest [19]. It established well on disturbed sites near Lake Tahoe but exhibited poor long-term survival due to cold winter temperatures [59]. Properly treated seed can be hand-sown onto burned slopes as an emergency revegetation measure in southern California chapparal [5]. Good seedling establishment has been reported following seeding of these sites [5]. OTHER USES AND VALUES : Native peoples boiled the leaves and flowers of wedgeleaf ceanothus for use in teas and tonics [61]. Flowers contain detergentlike substances known as saponins, and have been made into perfumes and soaps [61,64]. Branches of wedgeleaf ceanothus were formerly used to construct fish dams or weirs [64]. Many species of ceanothus are well suited for use as ornamentals [30]; wedgeleaf ceanothus has been cultivated since 1848 [52]. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : Competition: In some areas, vigorous postdisturbance growth of wedgeleaf ceanothus can retard the establishment and growth of conifers [13]. Chemical treatment: Although the application of fertilizers may help restore vigor to decadent plants, leader growth is generally not stimulated [24]. Fertilizers often result in increased mortality of young wedgeleaf ceanothus seedlings as competitive herbaceous vegetation is stimulated and overtops the young plants [24]. Grazing: Wedgeleaf ceanothus has been observed to increase after cattle grazing in foothill hardwood rangelands [16]. Production: Preliminary estimates have been made of wedgeleaf ceanothus biomass in Sequoia National Park. Results are as follows [47]: density/ha biomass (kg ha -1) stem foliage total 1,380 7,670 469 8,139

Related categories for Species: Ceanothus cuneatus | Wedgeleaf Ceanothus

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Information Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System

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