Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt.

A small, evergreen tree, sometimes 40 ft high, or a shrub, similar to C. montanus in flower and fruit, but very distinct in its foliage. Young shoots hairy; leaf somewhat resinous, lanceolate or narrow oblong, 1⁄2 to 11⁄2 in. long, 1⁄8 to 3⁄8 in. wide; dark green and becoming glabrous above, downy beneath, the margins entire and decurved; the midrib is prominent, but the side veins are not conspicuous as in C. montanus. The fruits are terminated by the silky, plume-like style, 2 to 3 in. long, characteristic of the genus.

Native of western N. America, from Oregon south to New Mexico. It has been grown at Kew, where it is quite hardy, but is not at present in the collection. Flowers in June. Introduced about 1879.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

This species was reintroduced to Kew by natural-source seed received in 1979 and 1980.