Pterocarya fraxinifolia
{{short description|Species of wingnut tree}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Pterocarya fraxinifolia 03 by Line1.JPG
| image_caption = Characteristic fruits of Caucasian wingnut
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Pterocarya
| species = fraxinifolia
| authority = (Lam.) Spach
| synonyms =
- Juglans fraxinifolia Lam.
- Pterocarya caucasica C.A.Mey.
- Pterocarya pterocarpa (Michx.) Kunth
}}
Pterocarya fraxinifolia is a species of tree in the Juglandaceae family. It is commonly known as the Caucasian wingnut or Caucasian walnut. It is native to the Caucasian region Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. It was introduced to France in 1784, and to Great Britain after 1800.{{Cite web|url=http://www.keele.ac.uk/arboretum/trees/speciesaccounts/caucasianwing-nut/|title=Caucasian Wingnut – Keele University Arboretum|access-date=2010-10-21}}
Description
File:Pterocarya fraxinifolia JPG3a.jpg
The tree is monoecious and grows to a height of < 30 m, the short, thick bole supporting widely spreading branches to form a rounded structure, not unlike the wych elm. The pinnate leaves can exceed 60 cm in length, comprising 7 - 27 sessile leaflets. The flowers appear in April, the male catkins thick and green, 7.5 – 12.5 cm long, the females longer with less dense flowers, bearing red styles forming fruiting catkins 30 – 50 cm long, the green, winged, nuts approximately 1.8 cm wide.Phillips, R. (1978). Trees in Britain, Europe & North America. Pan Books, London.
Ecology
The species is fast growing and grows best on flat ground or shallow slopes near river banks and in deep moist soils. The climate associated with the distribution of this tree includes mild winters and mild humid summers. It generally grows in mixed stands with other species and rarely grows in pure stands.{{cn|date=March 2021}}
Fossil record
Fossils of Pterocarya fraxinifolia have been described from the fossil flora of Kızılcahamam district in Turkey, which is of early Pliocene age.{{cite journal |last1=Kasaplıgil |first1=Baki |title=Ankara, Kızılcahamam yakınındaki Güvem köyü civarında bulunan son tersiyer kozalaklı-yeşil yapraklı ormanı |journal=Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration |date=1977 |volume=88 |page=94-102 |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/bulletinofmre/issue/3914/52153 |publisher=General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration |location=Ankara |language=tr, en |format=PDF |trans-title=A Late-Tertiary Conifer-Hardwood Forest From the Vicinity of Güvem Village, Near Kızılcahamam, Ankara}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.euforgen.org/species/pterocarya-fraxinifolia/ Pterocarya fraxinifolia] - information, genetic conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)
{{Taxonbar|from=Q121749}}
Category:Plants described in 1798
Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Fagales-stub}}