44 



Common Trees 



BLACK WALNUT 



Juglans nigra, Linnaeus 



THE Black Walnut is more fortunate than many trees 

 in that it has only a few common names. Throughout 

 its entire range of 650,000 square miles it is called Walnut, 

 Black Walnut or Walnut-tree. 



BLACK WALNUT 

 Leaf and fruit, one-fifth natural size. Twig, three-fourth natural size. 



The leaves are alternate, compound, with 13 to 23 leaflets. 

 Leaflets are 3 to 4 inches long, sharp-pointed, toothed along 

 margin, stalkless. 



The flowers are of two kinds. Both occur on same tree. 

 The pollen-bearing occur in unbranched, drooping tassels, 

 new growth. 

 The nut-producing occur in few-flowered clusters on the 



The fruit is a round furrowed nut, 1 to 2 inches in di- 

 ameter with a green, non-splitting, fleshy husk which turns 

 black when mature. 



The bark is thick, rough, furrowed, dark brown to gray- 

 ish-black. The twigs are stout, grayish-brown, bitter to 

 taste, contain gray to light brown chambered pith. The 

 buds are covered with downy scales. Terminal bud is as 

 long as wide. Lateral buds are smaller. 



The wood is rich dark brown, hard, strong, splits easily, 

 very durable. Used in furniture, interior finishings, sewing 

 machines, gun stocks, musical instruments, caskets and plan- 

 ing mill products. It is the most costly wood native to 

 Ohio. 



The Black Walnut is found from southern New England 

 to Minnesota and south to Florida. It occurs throughout 

 Ohio, reaching its best development on the fertile soils in the 

 western part of the State. The Black Walnut is an im- 

 portant timber tree, producing excellent lumber and fine nuts. 

 It may be used to reforest idle lands adapted to its growth. 



