Platycarya strobilacea

Siebold. & Zucc.

Hua ziang shu

Juglandaceae Edible: Leaves 1,024 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Platycarya strobilacea is a species of flowering plant in the family Juglandaceae, formerly treated as comprising the single living species in Platycarya, though a second living species Platycarya longzhouensis is now recognized. It is native to eastern Asia in China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. It is a deciduous tree growing to 15 m tall. The leaves are usually pinnate, 15–30 cm long with 7–15 leaflets (rarely simple, or with up to 23 leaflets), the terminal leaflet present; the leaflets are 3–11 cm long and 1.5–3.5 cm broad. The flowers are catkins; the male (pollen) catkins are 2–15 cm long, the female catkins 2.5–5 cm long at maturity, hard and woody, superficially resembling a conifer cone with spirally arranged scales. Galloyl pedunculagin can be found in P. strobilacea.

Description

A shrub or tree. It can be 15-25 m high. It spreads 10 m wide. The bark is yellow-brown with cracks along it. The leaves are 8-30 cm long. The leaf stalk is 1.2-9.2 cm long. There are 1-15 leaflets. The side leaflets do not have leaf stalks. The leaflets taper to a point. The flower spike has female flowers at the base and male flowers at the tip. The female section is 1-3 cm long and the male section is 1-3.5 cm long. There are also male spikes 2-15 cm long. The fruit are like cones and 4 cm long. The nutlets are oval and 3-6 mm long by 3-6 mm wide.

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten cooked. This plant is regarded as a famine food, used only when other options are unavailable.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is native to E. Asia. In China it grows in mixed forests on mountain slopes between 400-1400 m altitude. It can be higher. It needs well-drained soil. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Central Asia, China, Indochina, Japan, Korea, SE Asia, Tajikistan, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Requires a deep moist humus-rich loam and a sunny sheltered position. Trees are hardy to about -12°c in Britain, but they are not usually a success in our climate, preferring a warm dry continental climate. A tree in Hampshire is growing and fruiting well. A tree at Kew flowered heavily in the hot summer of 1989.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification. Prick seedlings out into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in the greenhouse for at least the first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts, and consider providing frost protection for at least the first winter outdoors. Layering is also possible.

Other Uses

A black dye obtained from the fruits is used for dyeing cloth. A black dye from the bark is used for dyeing nets, and likely contains tannin which also helps preserve them. The root is very fragrant when burned and is used in baths. The wood makes good fuel.

Notes

There is one Platycarya species.

Synonyms

Fortunaea chinensis LindleyPlatycarya kwangtungensis ChenPlatycarya longipes WuPlatycarya simplicifolia G.R.LongPlatycarya simplicifolia var. ternata G.R.LongPlatycarya sinensis MottetPlatycarya strobilacea va. kawakamii Hayata

References (5)

Abh. Math.-Phys. Cl. Koenigl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 3:742, t. 5. 1843
Coombes, A.J., 2000, Trees. Dorling Kindersley Handbooks. p 185
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1057
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Lu Anmin, Stone, D.E., Grauke, L.J., Juglandaceae. Flora of China.