Page:TheTreesOfGreatBritainAndIreland vol02B.djvu/387

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Pterocarya
437

Section I. Cycloptera, Franchet, Journ. de Bot., 1898, p. 318.

Fruit surrounded by an orbicular wing, composed of the connate bracteoles, which cover the nutlet at the base.

1. Pterocarya Paliurus, Batalin, Act. Hort. Petrop. xiii. 101 (1892); Franchet, loc. cit.; J.H. Veitch in Journ. R. Hort. Soc. 1903, xxviii. 65, fig. 26. China: mountains of Szechwan, Hupeh, and Chekiang.

Tree 40 feet. Twigs pubescent and glandular. Buds naked. Leaf-rachis villous or pubescent, not winged. Leaflets seven, coriaceous, oblong-ovate, with sub-acute apex, glabrous below except along the midrib. Fruits samara-like, the nutlet in the centre of an orbicular wing, 2 inches across, several on a raceme a foot long.
This species was introduced in 1903 by Mr. E.H. Wilson from the mountains of Central China; and young plants, which seem perfectly hardy, are now growing at Messrs. Veitch’s Nursery, Coombe Wood. The tree when in fruit presents a remarkable appearance, and is well worth trial, as it should prove hardier than P. stenoptera, which grows at a lower level.

Section II. Diptera (Sectio nova).

Fruit with two lateral wings, the developed bracteoles, which do not cover the nutlet at the base.

* Buds naked, without scales.

2. Pterocarya stenoptera, C. DC. China, Tonking.

Tree 60 feet. Twigs bristly-pubescent. Leaf-rachis winged. Leaflets nine to twenty-five, coriaceous, underneath glabrescent with pubescent tufts in the axils of the nerves. Fruit with long lanceolate upright glabrous wings. In cultivation. See description below.

3. Pterocarya hupehensis, Skan, Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.), xxvi. 493 (1899). China: mountains of Hupeh.

Small tree about 30 feet. Twigs glabrous. Leaf rachis not winged, glabrous except for some tomentum near its insertion. Leaflets five to nine, lanceolate; under surface with brown scurfy scales and glabrous except for stellate rusty tomentum in the axils of the nerves. Fruit minutely glandular, with sub-orbicular wings, 4 inch diameter. Introduced by Mr. E.H. Wilson in 1903. Young plants are now growing at Coombe Wood and seem to be perfectly hardy.

4. Pterocarya Delavayi, Franchet, Journ. de Bot. 1898, p. 317. China: mountains of Yunnan.

This species, which I have not seen, appears closely to resemble the last, differing mainly in the fruits being covered with short hairs. Not introduced.

5. Pterocarya caucasica, C.A. Meyer. Persia, the Caucasus.

Tree attaining 100 feet. Twigs glabrous except for some pubescence at the tips. Rachis of the leaf not winged. Leaflets fifteen to twenty-seven, membranous; under surface without glands and glabrous except for stellate pubescence on the nerves and in their axils. Fruit, ½ inch broad, glabrous; wings semi-orbicular. In cultivation. See description below.