Pterocarya rhoifolia

Pterocarya rhoifolia, commonly known as Japanese wingnut, is a species of tree in the family Juglandaceae. It is widely distributed throughout Japan, and also found in China in the Laoshan District of eastern Shandong Province.^[2][3] Its natural presence in China is contested.^[1]

Fruiting tree

Pterocarya rhoifolia
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Juglandaceae
Genus:	Pterocarya
Species:	P. rhoifolia
Binomial name
Pterocarya rhoifolia Siebold & Zucc.

The tree flourishes in moist areas along riverbanks and mountain streams, and attains 30 m (98 ft) in height, flowering from May–July.^[3]

It is a soft light wood, with the heartwood yellowish-white in color, which has been used as a substitute of kiri (Paulownia tomentosa), for example, to make geta clogs that are imitations of kiri-geta. It is straight-grained and the pore pattern on the surface provides the wood with a handsome appearance.^[4]

References

1. Song, Y.; Kozlowski, G.; Bétrisey, S. (2019). "Pterocarya rhoifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T66816434A158965576. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T66816434A158965576.en. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
2. Rix, Martyn (August 2007). "594. PTEROCARYA MACROPTERA var. INSIGNIS: Juglandaceae". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 24 (3): 180. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8748.2007.00583.x. JSTOR 45065824.
3. Flora of China (PDF). Harvard University. 1999. pp. 280–282. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
4. Bruce, Herbert Dale (1951). Properties and Uses of Commercially Important Japanese Woods. General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Natural Resources Section. p. 51.