Cyclocarya is a genus of flowering plants in the family Juglandaceae, comprising a single species Cyclocarya paliurus (qing qian liu[1] or wheel wingnut), formerly treated in the genus Pterocarya as Pterocarya paliurus. It is native to eastern and central China.[2][1]

Cyclocarya
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Juglandaceae
Subfamily: Juglandoideae
Tribe: Juglandeae
Subtribe: Juglandinae
Genus: Cyclocarya
Iljinsk.
Species:
C. paliurus
Binomial name
Cyclocarya paliurus
(Batalin) Iljinsk.
Synonyms

Pterocarya paliurus Batalin

It is a deciduous tree growing to 30 m tall. The foliage is similar to Pterocarya, with pinnate leaves 20–25 cm long with five to eleven leaflets, the terminal leaflet present; the leaflets are 5–14 cm long and 2–6 cm broad. The flowers are catkins; the male (pollen) catkins are produced in clusters (not singly as in Pterocarya), the female catkins 25–30 cm long at maturity, bearing several small winged nuts with a circular wing 2.5–6 cm diameter right round the nut (instead of two wings at the sides as in Pterocarya).[2][1]

Fossil record edit

20 fossil endocarps of †Cyclocarya nemejcii from the early Miocene, have been found in the Kristina Mine at Hrádek nad Nisou in North Bohemia, the Czech Republic.[3] Described first from the Middle Miocene of JapanCyclocarya ezoana is also known from the Middle Miocene Seldovia Point Flora of Alaska. 10 Ma old fossil leaflets that are very similar to it have been found in Tröllatunga-Gautshamar Formation in Iceland. The Icelandic fossils and †C. ezoana are similar to †C. cyclocarpa from the Early Miocene of Germany.[4]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Flora of China: Cyclocarya paliurus
  2. ^ a b Flora of China: Cyclocarya
  3. ^ A review of the early Miocene Mastixioid flora of the Kristina Mine at Hrádek nad Nisou in North Bohemia, The Czech Republic, January 2012 by F. Holý, Z. Kvaček and Vasilis Teodoridis - ACTA MUSEI NATIONALIS PRAGAE Series B – Historia Naturalis • vol. 68 • 2012 • no. 3–4 • pp. 53–118
  4. ^ Late Cainozoic Floras of Iceland: 15 Million Years of Vegetation and Climate History in the Northern North Atlantic by Thomas Denk, Friðgeir Grimsson, Reinhard Zetter and Leifur A. Símonarson - Springer Science & Business Media, 28. mar. 2011 - 854 pages