Flowers- just past their
prime - April 29, 2013
Beginning to form the seed
pod
Photo Details: © Nicky Davis
1., 2., 3., 4. June 28, 2012 at
Squaw Peak Road , Utah County, Utah
5. September 25,
2004, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah
6. Flowers - April 29, 2013 - Wasatch Blvd, Salt Lake County, Utah
7. Beginning to form seed pod.
Description
Size:
35 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Leaves: elliptic to lanceolate, 0.48 to 1 inch, long,
leathery, resinous, and curled under at the
margins
Habitat:
In shallow to
moderately deep soil at
middle to high elevations on gentle to steep slopes, rock
outcrops, and
ridges. It is able to extend its taproot into cracks in
bedrock, tapping into otherwise unavailable water supplies. It
can be extremely long-lived and some have been found that were 1,350
years old. It is somewhat shade tolerant. It is able to
grow in open coniferous forests; but it occurs most often and
grows best on sites without forest canopy
Seed: seed may remain viable for a number of years. The
seedlings are sensitive to drought, frost,
and browsing
Flowers: May
to July - tube-shaped and have
no petals
Uses:
An
important food source of food for wintering Mule Deer and in summer,
Big Horn Sheep as it contains enough protein. The wood is
so dense that it doesn't float. It is an excellent fuel and burns
for a long time. Goshute indians from Utah used mahogany to make bows.
Among other places, Ledifolia is also found at
Middle Canyon, Tooele County, Utah
East Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah
Wasatch Blvd. Salt Lake City, Utah
Blue Canyon, Tooele County, Utah
Host plant for larvae of
Behr's
Hairstreak Butterfly - Satyrium
behrii crossi
per
Jack Harry.
I also reared some
behrii lavae on ledifolia
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