Trees of New York- State 143 



JUGLANDACEAE 



Juglans nigra L. 



Black Walnut 



Habit — A largo tree 75-100 feet in heiglit witli a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet, 

 in tiie ric'li alluvial soils of tlie Ohio basin sometimes attaining a height 

 of 150 feet with a bole 5-G feet in diameter. The trunk is straight and 

 continuous into the crown, gradually breaking up into stout, spreading 

 limbs which form a narrow or broad, round-topped ei-own. In tall indi- 

 viduals the bole is often clear of branches for 50-60 feet. 



Leaves — Alternate, odd-pinnately compound, 1-2 feet long consisting of 13- 

 23 sessile or nearly sessile leaflets arranged in pairs along a puberulent 

 petiole, the terminal leaflet often suppressed. Leaflets ovate-lanceolate 

 3-3 1/^ inches long, 1-1^/4 inches wide, acuminate at the apex, rounded and 

 usually inequilateral at the base, sharply serrate except at the base, at 

 maturity thin, yello\%-i3h green, lustrous and glabrous above, soft pubes- 

 cent beneath. 



Flowers — Appearing in May and early June when the leaves are about half 

 grown, monoecious, the staminate in stout, iinbranched catkins, 3-5 inches 

 in length on the growth of the preceding season, the pistillate in terminal 

 2-5-tlowered spikes capping the growth of the season, the two sorts proxi- 

 mal. Staminate flowers about ^/l of an inch long, epaulet-shaped, consist- 

 ing of a nearly triangular, rusty-tomentose bract bearing adaxially a 

 rounded, 6-lobed perianth subtending 20-30 nearly sessile stamens. 

 Anthers purple. Pistillate flowers about ^4 of an inch long, sessile, con- 

 sisting of an inferior, 1-celled ovary surmounted by a style and 2 elavate, 

 ascending stigmas which are yellowish green tinged with red and %— % of 

 an inch long. The ovary is closely invested by glandular, cohering bracts 

 and the calyx. 



Fruit — A globose or oblong, deeply sculptured nut, 4-celled at the base, 

 slightly 2-celled at the apex, l%-li/^ inches in diameter, covered by a 

 rather thick, indehiscent, yellowish green husk which is roughened with 

 clusters of pale hairs. 



Winter characters — Twigs stout, lenticellate, dull orange-brown and pilose 

 the' first winter, gradually darkening to a light brown. Pith, pale buff, 

 diaphragmed. Leaf-scars elevated, 3-lobed, often cordate, with 3 equi- 

 distant L^-shaped clusters of bundle-sears. Buds pale grayish white. 

 Terminal bud rounded, ovate, % of an incli long, covered by 4 scales, the 

 outer pair rounded and lobed, the inner pinnatifid at the apex. Lateral 

 buds smaller, blunt, often superposed. Staminate aments preformed the 

 preceding season, appearing as scaly, cone-like, tomentose lateral buds. 

 Mature bark dark brown to grayish black, 2-3 inches thick, divided by 

 deep fissures into broad, rounded ridges, thick, scaly at the surface. 



Habitat — Kec^uires a deep, rich, moist, well-drained soil. Thrives best in the 

 deep alluvial soils of bottom-lands and on fertile slopes. 



Range — Central New England west through central New York, Michigan and 

 Wisconsin, to Nebraska, south to Florida and eastern Texas. Zones A, 

 B, and C. 



Uses — One of the most valuable timber trees of eastern United States. Wood 

 hard, heavy, strong, somewhat coarse-grained, easily worked, durable in 

 contact with the soil, rich dark brown Arith thin pale sapwood. Prized 

 for gun stocks, furniture, interior finish and cabinet making. Supply 

 greatly depleted. Nut rich in oil, nutritious, often found in the eastern 

 niarkets. Black Walnut is of decided ornamental value. 



