TREES AND SHRUBS 81 



as large as apple blossoms and followed by a cluster of red- 

 dish-tinged plumose akenes that suggested the name here given 

 by Mr. James K. Metcalfe. This shrub grows very rapidly 

 when supplied with abundance of water, but will endure ex- 

 tremes of drought. It is apparently at home in the drier 

 mountains at elevations of 6,000 or 7,000 feet, but follows 

 down the mountain canyons and out on to the mesas in the ar- 

 royos. Besides its decorative value it is one of the most im- 

 portant of forage-producing shrubs of the region in which it 

 grows. It rarely reaches its full height except where pro- 

 tected from animals. 



Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.) is represented 

 in New Mexico by four species, all of which are more or less 

 valuable for the forage they produce. These plants are also 

 frequently used for firewood. They may be recognized by the 

 single tailed akenes which protrude beyond the persistent base 

 of the tubular calyx. The flowers are inconspicuous and lack 

 petals. The wood is very hard and heavy, as is suggested by 

 the common name, and of dark reddish-brown color, capable 

 of taking a high polish. It is used occasionally for the manu- 

 facture of small articles, but is not produced in sufficient 

 quantity to be of any particular value. It is exceedingly 

 brittle and almost too heavy to float. The shrubs vary in 

 height from 3 to 12 feet or even larger, and are extensively 

 browsed by cattle, sheep and goats. They occur on the rockier 

 and drier mountain slopes at elevations of from 5,000 to 8,000 

 feet. 



Cozvania mexicana is a very similar shrub but with resin- 

 ous leaves and stems, yellowish-tinged flowers and only five 

 akenes in each flower. It occurs at higher elevations, mainly 

 in the mountains of the western part of the State. It also 

 would be worth cultivating. 



Scricotheca dumosa is a shrub 6 to 10 feet high with a 

 few main spreading stems that branch profusely and grace- 

 fully. The leaves are simple, an inch or so long, with a few 

 rounded teeth and densely white hairv beneath. The flowers- 



