Practical
Plants

Pterocarya rhoifolia

Japanese Wingnut

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Pterocarya genus in the family Juglandaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
30 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed[1]. No more details are given but the seed is very small and would be very fiddly to use.

Plant part
Seed

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - light, soft, not easily cracked. Used for clogs, chopsticks etc.

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Valleys and mountains all over Japan[9]. Wet areas along riverbanks and mountain streams in eastern Shandong, China[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[10][3]. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours in warm water[10] then cold stratify for 2 - 3 months[11][3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year[6]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[3]. Cuttings of mature shoots, November in a frame. Only use vigorous shoots[3]. Layering. Division of suckers in the dormant season[4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sunny position in a rich strong loam with abundant moisture at the roots[2][5]. Succeeds in areas that do not experience prolonged winter temperatures below about -12°c[5], but young plants and the young shoots of older trees can be cut back by winter frosts[2]. The leaves are aromatic when bruised[7]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  7. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  8. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  9. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  10. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2

  11. Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

    ↩

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