Prunus wilsonii (Chinese: 绢毛稠李) is a species of Prunus native to southeast China, preferring to grow at 950–2500 m. It is a deciduous tree reaching a height of 10–30 m.

Prunus wilsonii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Prunus subg. Padus
Species:
P. wilsonii
Binomial name
Prunus wilsonii
(Diels ex C.K.Schneid.) Koehne
Synonyms
  • Padus wilsonii C.K.Schneid.
  • Prunus wilsonii (C.K.Schneid.) Koehne
  • Prunus wilsonii Diels ex Koehne
  • Prunus dunniana H. Lév.
  • Prunus rufomicans Koehne
  • Prunus sericea (Batalin) Koehne

Uses

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The wood is left unpainted for visual effect.

Wood from Prunus wilsonii was used to carve the Shakyamuni (Shaka Nyorai) (木造釈迦如来立像; mokuzō shaka nyorai ryūzō), a copy of the lost Udayana Buddha by the Chinese sculptors (and brothers) Zhāng Yánjiǎo and Zhāng Yánxí. It was brought to Japan from China in 986 by the monk Chōnen (奝然). The sculpture stands 160 cm (5 ft 3 in) tall and is a National Treasure of Japan.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Rösch, Petra (16 November 2007). Chinese Wood Sculptures of the 11th to 13th centuries: Images of Water-moon Guanyin in Northern Chinese Temples and Western Collections. pp. 172–173. ISBN 9789004128484.