THE WALNUT 



263 



is that the pith is not continuous, 

 but consists of a series of thin plates 

 dividing the otherwise hollow tube 

 into a number of cells, or chambers, 

 which can be exposed by splitting 

 the twig lengthwise. These twigs 

 externally bear some resemblance to 

 those of the ash, but they can be at 

 once recognised in that the resting 

 buds of the walnut are arranged spirally 

 and not in opposite pairs. The buds 

 are thick and rounded, dark in colour, 

 and protected almost entirely by two 

 scales. They stand out on prominent 

 bases. The leaf-scars are saddle- 

 shaped, showing three groups of leaf- 

 traces. 



The leaves are not simple, as are 

 those of all the trees previously con- 

 sidered, but compound. That is to 

 sa5% each leaf consists of a number of 

 simple leaflets. There are from two 



multiphed subdivision, com- 

 pletely clothes the tree's 

 framework, forming a sym- 

 metrical crown, rounded and 

 dense, and affording a 

 pleasant contrast amongst 

 the greens of this season. 



In autumn the round, green 

 fruits become evident in 

 small clusters of two or three 

 at the tips of the twigs. 

 Then the leaves slowly 

 assume their yellow to 

 brownish fading tints, the 

 fruits at the same time 

 browning to ripeness. 



The trunk is strong and 

 round, but usually is short, 

 and divides low down. The 

 hark is whitish grey, rough- 

 ened often into distinctly 

 lattice-shaped markings. 



The winter twigs are 

 smooth and shining, grey to 

 brown in colour, cylindrical, 

 and rather stout. A dis- 

 tinctive pecuharity of these 



AGED ROADSIDE WALNUT TREE IN NOKTIl 

 DEVON. 



