WALNUT. 



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Family: TEREBINTHACEAE [Translator's note: now JUGLANDACEAE]. 



Reproductive system: MONOECY, POLYANDRY. 



The common walnut tree, Juglans regia, Linn., is a tall tree whose 

 branches have pinnate leaves with live or seven smooth oval entire leaflets. The flowers 

 are monoecious and axillary. The male flowers are assembled in a catkin. A very large 

 number of stamens on short filaments insert into a glandular disc with six sections. The 

 female flowers are paired or are single inside small buds. They have a double calyx; the 

 interior one is adherent and has six sections. The ovary is surmounted by two separated 

 somewhat fringed styles. The fruit is an oval drupe containing a nut with two valves that 

 has an irregularly sinuate kernel divided at the base into four lobes separated by 

 membranous partitions. Seven varieties of the trees are cultivated: first, the Saint- Jean 

 walnut tree, second, the one with large fruit, third, the two-season tree, fourth, the 

 angular, fifth, one with laciniate leaves, sixth, with soft shell, seventh, with firm fruit. 



FLOWERS: in April and May. 



RANGE: According to Pliny, the walnut tree originated in Persia. It's been 

 naturalized in France for a long time. Nevertheless its new leaves sometimes are burned 

 by frost. 



NOMENCLATURE. Juglans, short for jovis glans, the acorn of God, or of Jupiter, 

 because of the good taste of this fruit compared to the common acorn. German, wallnuss, 

 nussbaum . English, common walnut tree. Italian, il noce. Russian, grezkia orechi. 

 Hungarian, olass-dio. Chinese, ho-tao. 



USES. The fruit is used medicinally in the composition of three-nut water, which 

 is added to hydragogue potions at a dose of four to six ounces. The oil of the fruit, when 

 fresh, can be used as a laxative and as an emollient. 



The nutshells have a bitter, acrid taste that induces vomiting. 



