Wingnut
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Species
There are six species of wingnut.
- Pterocarya fraxinifolia - Caucasian Wingnut. Caucasus and Elburz mountains in southwest Asia.
- Pterocarya hupehensis - Hubei Wingnut. Central China.
- Pterocarya macroptera - Large-winged Wingnut. West and southwest China.
- Pterocarya rhoifolia - Japanese Wingnut. Japan, eastern China (Shandong).
- Pterocarya stenoptera - Chinese Wingnut. China, widespread.
- Pterocarya tonkinensis - Tonkin Wingnut. Southernmost China (Yunnan), Indo-China.
Another species from China, the Wheel Wingnut with similar foliage but an unusual circular wing right round the nut (instead of two wings at the sides), previously listed as Pterocarya paliurus, has now been transferred to a new genus, as Cyclocarya paliurus.
Uses
Wingnuts are very attractive, large and fast-growing trees, occasionally planted in parks and large gardens. The commonest in general cultivation outside of Asia is P. fraxinifolia, but the most attractive is probably P. rhoifolia. The hybrid P. x rehderiana, a cross between P. fraxinifolia and P. stenoptera, is even faster-growing and has occasionally been planted for timber production. The wood is of good quality, similar to walnut, though not quite so dense and strong.
External links
"Wingnut" is also a common, mildly derogatory term for a person who holds and professes right-wing political beliefs, especially in the context of internet message boards, blogs, mailing lists, or newsgroups. The term is most likely a truncation of 'right-wing nut.'
On economic and stock messageboards, a wingnut is a person who believes that there is going to be an imminent economic catastrophe. They are usually associated with goldbugs.
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