Pterocarya fraxinifolia

Caucasian wingnut ( Pterocarya fraxinifolia ), leafy branch

The Caucasian wingnut ( Pterocarya fraxinifolia ) is a deciduous tree species from the genus of the wing nuts in the family of the walnut family ( Juglandaceae ).

Description

The tree reaches heights of growth to 25 meters. He often grows much stocky; the strong arching branches are increasing. Smaller branches are horizontal, longer are slightly overhanging. The wide crown gives the tree a decorative habit. The bark is dull gray and has broad, flat cracks. The branches are green brown and bare. The change-constant leaves are up to 60 cm long, and pinnate with about 21 ( 7-27 ) against permanent leaflets, which are at the bare yellow-green stem, which has an approximately 1 cm thick stem base. The leaflets are close together and overlap in part; they run out in a narrow tip. The leaves are shiny green on the upper side and lighter on the underside. The middle leaves are longest and reach sizes up to 18 × 5 cm. The autumn colors in October is shiny yellow.

The male flowers are thick, about 5 to 12 cm long catkins; they appear together with the leaves, about the end of April. The kittens are yellowish to greenish and dust around mid-May. The female inflorescences are slender, initially 10 to 15 cm long and studded with small flowers about 3 mm. The inflorescences grow to a length of about 25 to 50 cm. The fruits are on the basal (ie base nearby ) loose half of the inflorescence, on the remaining half tight. Ring at the individual fruit sits a greenish white wings; thus resembles the fruit of an elephant head in frontal view. The wing is about 2 inches wide.

The roots often drive up to 10 m long streamers and thereby form a dense shrubbery, in the immediate vicinity of the trunk ( about 2 meters), these are so powerful that they can push up even paved surfaces and curbs.

Dissemination

The Caucasian wingnut is widespread in the mountain forests of the Caucasus to northern Iran. The tree is found mainly on alluvial deposits along rivers, where it often forms through a thicket of saplings. It requires a moist soil, tolerates for short-term flooding.

The tree is planted for about 150 years outside its natural range in parks and large gardens, sometimes used as an avenue tree. Especially gracing it acts in autumn by its large golden-yellow leaves and fruit.

Habitat requirements

The Caucasian wingnut can survive in different terrains. It tolerates full sun exposure as well as a shady location, a hot to cool microclimate and a dry or wet soil. Their deep roots estimate nutrient-rich and well drained soil with a pH of from 5.5 to 8.0 and can, if the rooting managed well, even withstand periods of drought.

A sheltered location with a sunny location is the best location. Generally, however, the species is resistant to urban climates and deserves the title wind resistant.

Use

The Caucasian wingnut provides one of the most valuable wood veneers (" Caucasian walnut " ) for furniture production. The subtle yet very distinctive dark markings often forming wonderful patterns. It so happens that the tree in Europe is sometimes cultivated for its forestry and wood.

The distinctive wing fruits can be used for all kinds of handicrafts.

Toxicity

From the leaves of a poison is obtained for fish hunting by trituration in water. The leaves contain Juglonvorstufen in the form of glycosides and Hydroxyjuglon ( 1.7-3.0 mg / g dry weight).