Wingnut Cryptantha

Description

Pterocarya are deciduous trees, 10-40 m tall, with pinnate leaves 20-45 cm long, with 11-25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the walnuts (Juglans) but not the hickories (Carya) in the same family. The flowers are monoecious, in catkins. The seed catkins when mature (about six months after pollination) are pendulous, 15-45 cm long, with 20-80 seeds strung along them. The seeds are a small nut 5-10 mm across, with two wings, one each side. In some of the species, the wings are short (5-10 mm) and broad (5-10 mm), in others longer (10-25 mm) and narrower (2-5 mm).