The classification of Cercocarpus within the Rosaceae has been unclear.[3][4] The genus has been placed in the subfamily
Rosoideae, but is now placed in subfamily
Dryadoideae.[5]
Members of the genus are
deciduousshrubs or small
trees, typically reaching heights of 3–6 m (9–18 ft) tall, but exceptionally up to 13 m (40 ft) high. C. montanus usually remains under 1 m (3 ft) high because of incessant browsing by
elk and
deer.
The name is derived from the
Greek words κέρκος (kerkos), meaning "tail" and καρπός (karpos), meaning "fruit". It refers to the tail-like plume on the fruits.[6]
The status of the following species and hybrids is unresolved:[7]
Cercocarpus antiquus Lesq.
Cercocarpus arizonicus M.E.Jones
Cercocarpus betulaefolius C.K.Schneid.
Cercocarpus betulaefolius Nutt. ex Hook.
Cercocarpus breviflorus S.Watson
Cercocarpus cuneatus Dorf
Cercocarpus fothergilloides Torr.
Cercocarpus harneyensis C.A.Arnold
Cercocarpus macrophyllus C.K.Schneid.
Cercocarpus miniscalchii (A.Massal.) Principi
Cercocarpus orestesi Knowlt.
Cercocarpus pallidus Wooton
Cercocarpus parviflorus Wooton
Cercocarpus parvifolius Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.
Cercocarpus praefoliolosa R.W.Br.
Cercocarpus praeledifolius E.W.Berry
Cercocarpus ravenscragensis E.W.Berry
Cercocarpus treleasei C.K.Schneid.
References
^"Genus: Cercocarpus Kunth". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-06-21. Archived from
the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
^Morgan, D.R., et al. (1994). Systematic and evolutionary implications of rbcL sequence variation in Rosaceae. American Journal of Botany. 81(7): 890–903.
^Eriksson, T., et al. (2003). The phylogeny of Rosoideae (Rosaceae) based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the trnL/F region of chloroplast DNA. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 164: 197–211.
^Potter, D., et al. (2007). Phylogeny and classification of Rosaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(1–2): 5–43.