​Mountain Mahogany, Featherbush, Palo Duro,Cercocarpus montanus,Rose Family (Rosaceae)

Found in dry areas, washes, rocky slopes
Seen blooming in late May in Red Wash Canyon

Trees with their deep roots seem to be doing OK in this drought; the Cottonwoods are snowing cotton, the Russian Olives are in bloom and filling the air with their sweet scent. Mountain Mahogany grows in full sun and can tolerate dry conditions and is also in bloom. It grows as a shrub or small tree to 12 feet tall. Leaves are dark green above but pale and hairy below with veins radiating from the stem. The flowers are a narrow, pinkish, half inch long tube with golden stamens. The seeds have showy, feathery, twisted plumes. Palo duro, meaning hard wood, was given its Spanish name because of the extreme toughness of the trunks and branches. The wood has a bright red color when freshly cut and those of English stock called it Mountain Mahogany. The wood is strong and hard. Native Americans used it to make digging sticks, bows and arrow points. Roots were used to make a red dye. Medicinally it was used for stomach troubles, to hasten postpartum recovery, as a laxative, for coughing and as a dressing for burns. Source.

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