VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Cercocarpus betuloides | Birchleaf Mountain-Mahogany 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Birchleaf mountain-mahogany is a valuable browse for ungulates.  In
California, it is listed as one of primary browse species of deer in the
north and south Coast Ranges, along the west slope of the Sierra Nevada,
and in the southern mountain ranges [4]. Mule deer and white-tailed deer
consumption of birchleaf mountain-mahogany is light to heavy in the late
fall, winter, and spring [4,29,33].


PALATABILITY : 
In California, birchleaf mountain-mahogany's palatability is rated as
good for cattle, good to excellent for sheep and goats, poor to good for
horses, excellent for mule deer, and good for bighorn sheep [9,42].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Birchleaf mountain-mahogany is a nutritious ungulate browse.  The
protein content of leaves and twigs is somewhat higher than that of many
associated browse species [41,42].  Seasonal variation in birchleaf
mountain-mahogany twig and leaf chemical constituents has been reported
[2,41,46].


COVER VALUE : 
Birchleaf mountain-mahogany presumably provides cover for a wide variety
of animals, both in chaparral and forest communities.


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Birchleaf mountain-mahogany's ability to survive on harsh sites makes it
a useful candidate for erosion control of arid mountain slopes [10].
Its use in rehabilitation projects, however, has been very limited due
to problems with seedling establishment.  Work with true
mountain-mahogany suggests that plants can be established via fall
planting [39].

Selective breeding within the Cercocarpus genus may provide crosses
useful for rehabilitation work.  Monsen and Davis [36] suggest that
hybrids of true and birchleaf mountain-mahogany would retain the
favorable adaptive traits of their parents, including nondormant
seeds and an improved growth rate.


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Native Americans used the strong wood of birchleaf mountain-mahogany to
make fish spears, arrow shafts, and digging sticks.  They used the inner
bark for many medicinal purposes and to produce a purple dye [9].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Biological control:  Browsing by domestic goats can reduce brush growth.
Studies in Arizona and California show that birchleaf mountain-mahogany
is highly preferred by goats, and that managed herds can keep this plant
closely browsed [16,27].  In Arizona, birchleaf mountain-mahogany height
in browsed areas was 67 percent less than in unbrowsed areas [27].

Chemical control:  Phenoxy herbicides have generally been ineffective in
controlling sprouting chaparral shrubs.  Fenuron and picloram applied to
the soil as pellets are more effective, killing 54 and 94 percent of
birchleaf mountain-mahogany, respectively, 3 years after application
[7].

Related categories for Species: Cercocarpus betuloides | Birchleaf Mountain-Mahogany