Black walnut (black walnut)

Black walnut (black walnut)

Appearance; A tree that sheds its leaves for winter, quite broad, usually also with a high vaulted crown and more or less regular, compact outline. The trunk is very impressive and the graves, straight. Branches, usually deviating from the trunk only at a certain height above the ground, they form an even wreath and are quite thick. The tree can reach in its homeland, in favorable conditions, the height is even 50 meters. Gray or gray-brown bark on young trees, dark brown or almost black in older specimens, with regular narrow pattern, but thick slats, closing diamond-shaped, recessed fields. Shoots, unlike walnut, gently, as if velvety hairy. Pale brown buds, sharp at the front, with folded scales. Odd-feathered mouths, spiral, about the length 30-50 centimeters. The individual leaves in 7-11 pairs have length 6-10 cm, are pointed at the front, and irregularly but clearly serrated at the edges. Naked on top, on the underside glandular hairy, they grow on very short petioles or sit opposite to each other. The longest leaves are placed in the center of the leaf, they slightly decrease towards the root and towards the top.

Male flowers in cones, fat, protruding colic, collected after 2-5 on last year's shoots. Inconspicuous, greenish female flowers are always placed five on the tops of the branches. Fruit (pestkowiec) about the length 3-5 cm is roundish or pear-shaped, vivid green, smooth; does not open when matured,

Occurrence; Black walnut is the American relative of the European walnut. It is found in the eastern and central parts of North America, from Massachusetts to Teksas. Occasionally it is also planted in Europe in parks and gardens. The species can be found almost everywhere in larger collections and arborels.

Flowering period: May to June.

General thoughts: Because of the beautiful, contrasting drawing, walnut wood is highly valued and reaches exorbitant prices on the world market. Today they are mostly processed into veneers (forniry).