Figure 17. — True mountain 

 mahogany growing on herb- 

 depleted south- facing 

 slope in Miller Canyon 

 southeast of Nephi, Juab 

 County J Utah. 



Distribution and Habitat: True mountain mahogany occurs from 1,220 to 3,040 m 

 (4,000 to 10,000 feet) over a wide range of habitats from the Rocky Mountains westward 

 with eastward extensions into South Dakota and Montana. It often grows in coarse, 

 shallow soil on south- or west-facing slopes and ridges (fig. 17), but is also common 

 in the more moist, fertile, deeper soils of canyon bottoms and on north slopes at lower 

 elevations (fig. 18) . 



This species is frequently associated with gambel oak (Quercus gojvbelii) , Utah 

 juniper [Juniperus osteosperma) , pinyon pines, ponderosa pine, serviceberry , bitterbrush 

 (Purshia trid.entata) , manzanita {Arctostaphylos spp.), buckbrush (Ceanothus spp.), 

 species of rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus) , and species of sagebrush. Cercooarpus montanus 

 is often the dominant species of the association and frequently occurs in nearly pure 

 stands . 



Figure 18. — True mountain 

 mahogany growing with 

 Utah juniper on a north- 

 faoing slope in Salina 

 Canyon, Sevier County, 

 Utah. 



14 



