Walnut
Family Juglandaceae
Juglans regia, the walnut (J. regia 1), is a tall deciduous tree, up to 30 m high, with alternate pinnate leaves, the terminal leaflet being the largest. The flowers are unisexual; the male ones in pendulous catkins, the female ones solitary or in small clusters. The fruit is a green drupe, containing a wrinkled stone, the walnut (J. regia 2).
Distribution
The walnut is native from Europe to Central Asia and China, and is cultivated in the US, France, Italy, China and India.
Use
Walnuts are eaten for dessert, but they are mainly used in confectionery. Walnut oil, extracted from the nuts, used to be important edible oil, and has been used for centuries in the preparation of artist’ s paint. The walnut is also valued as a timber tree.