{"id":12275,"date":"2022-11-12T11:35:51","date_gmt":"2022-11-12T16:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?page_id=12275"},"modified":"2022-11-12T11:35:52","modified_gmt":"2022-11-12T16:35:52","slug":"black-walnut","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/black-walnut\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Walnut: Key Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that black walnut trees have a wide variety of uses? Or that they may even be able to kill parasites? Keep reading to learn more about these and other black walnut key facts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Facts About Black Walnuts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scientific Name:<\/strong><\/td>Juglans nigra<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Type of Organism:<\/strong><\/td>Deciduous tree<\/td><\/tr>
Physical Description:<\/strong><\/td>Tall deciduous tree with large, fern-like leaves and hard, tennis-ball-shaped fruit. The green-yellow leaves are composed of 15 to 25 oppositely-arranged leaflets; each leaflet is serrated and may be up to 5 inches long. The fruits are lime green and composed of three layers: the outer husk, the inner hard shell, and the nutmeat. Black walnuts have tall trunks covered in gray-brown bark which is deeply ridged in a diamond-shaped pattern.<\/td><\/tr>
Distribution:<\/strong><\/td>Native to midwestern and eastern portions of North America, but may be cultivated in many temperate climates.<\/td><\/tr>
Habitat:<\/strong><\/td>Found primarily in mixed deciduous forests and woodlands, growing near rivers or streams, hilly areas, and savannas.<\/td><\/tr>
Size:<\/strong><\/td>50 to 150 feet tall; averaging 70 to 80 feet tall.<\/td><\/tr>
Average Lifespan:<\/strong><\/td>At least 200 years<\/td><\/tr>
Edible:<\/strong><\/td>Yes: black walnut nutmeats are edible.<\/td><\/tr>
Medicinal:<\/strong><\/td>Yes: nutmeats, leaves, bark, and husks may be used to make teas<\/a> and tinctures to treat a variety of ailments.<\/td><\/tr>
Other Uses:<\/strong><\/td>– The wood is prized as lumber.
– The husks can be used to make dye.
– The trees are often planted<\/a> as ornamentals.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What are Black Walnut Trees?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Black walnut trees grow in deciduous forests<\/a> and temperate regions throughout the eastern half of North America. They produce hundreds of fruits each year which squirrels and other wildlife eat to survive throughout the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their bright green leaves, composed of many individual leaflets, give the trees a distinctive look<\/a>. The fruits fall to the ground from late summer through late fall, with their lime-green husks turning a tarry black as they age.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black walnut trees have many uses: their wood makes an excellent lumber; their nuts<\/a> are full of flavor; and various parts of the tree have impressive health benefits. Pigments in the husks can be extracted and used to make a dye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about these trees, check out the following video:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=w2oaffYUb1E<\/a>