64 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Hull: Outer surface bumpy, green, turning light yellowish green while 
dehiscing; often pink on edges; pubescence short, fine, woolly, gray. Inner 
surface light green to brown. Dehisces on ventral edge only; often portions 
of shell come off with hull. Ripens August 1 to 30. 
Hulled nut.—(P1. VI, C.) Size small to medium (average, 14 by % by 3% 
inches). Number to the pound, 225 to 250. Percentage of kernel to nut in 
hand-cracked samples, 44. 
Shape: Ovate (viewed edgewise, rather long oval, with base frequently 
tapering, and widest part nearer end than base). Ventral edge sharply. 
curved. Wing thin; medium in prominence, usually least prominent at base 
and most prominent near apex. Dorsal edge varies in curve, usually medium, al- 
Ways curved near apex, sometimes straight at middle portion. Base usually 
round; ventral shoulder slightly sloping; dorsal shoulder a little higher than 
stem scar; dorsal ridge not prominent except at shoulder; stem scar very 
small, oval, somewhat ventrally sloping. Apex thin, rather obtuse, but has 
a small point formed by the wing. Viewed edgewise the apex is usually thin, 
rather long, and pointed or cuneiform. 
Shell: Outer surface light to dark brown. Pits very numerous and small. 
Short grooves at base and along ventral edge. Outer shell very soft and 
spongy. Shell gets harder as tree gets older. Varies much. Canals and fibers 
medium in size. Inner shell very thin and hard, light brown. Inner surface 
usually corrugated longitudinally with few shallow corrugations. Ventral 
streak, medium in length, rather narrow, tapering gradually to apex, taper- 
ing from middle to base, which is acute, with slightly rounding point; usually 
light brown, slightly lighter in color than rest of inner surface of shell; two 
Sharp ridges usually present each side of streak. 
Kernel: Size medium (% py 4 by 4+ inch). Some doubles (10 per cent). 
Ilat, ovate. Ventral edge more plump and less curved than dorsal. Base 
round to round-truncate. Dorsal shoulder slightly sloping to square, being 
higher than ventral shoulder and thin. Ventral shoulder rounds off suddenly. 
Apex fairly plump. Kernel wrinkles much in drying. Pellicle, thin, tough, 
short; pubescence thick, short; pellicle fold prominent throughout apex third 
of ventral edge; base scar small, round, or oval. Flavor good, slightly nutty, 
sweet. 
Distinguishing characteristics —Resembles the I. X. L. somewhat in shape, 
but is easily distinguished from it. Shell is heavier and more spongy, pits 
smaller and more numerous, wing less prominent, base of ventral streak light 
brown instead of dark brown; and the kernel is narrower and smaller. 
The Gordon nut resembles closely the Grosse Tendre and Hampton in shape, 
but the stem scar slopes ventrally in the former. The Gordon kernels are 
without the crease in the sides, which is characteristic of the Hampton and 
Grosse Tendre. 
COMMENTS 
This nut is often marketed as I. X. L. It has a considerable number of 
doubles, is in general inferior to the I. X. L. and several other varieties, and 
as it has no merit not possessed by the Hatch varieties it is not recommended 
for planting. The tree is especially susceptible to disease, such as apricot 
brown-rot. 
32. GROSSE TENDRE (IMPROVED LANGUEDOC) 
Origin.—Introduced from France by Felix Gillet, of Nevada City, Calif. 
The variety was listed for sale in his nursery catalogues as early as 1888. It 
was planted to some extent in a number of districts in the State and is still 
grown on a commercial scale in the Chico-Durham district. 
Description 
TREE 
Spreading (ratio of height of head to width, 1:14). Seragegly,; willowly. 
sranches profusely. Trunk medium stocky; bark rough, cracks close together ; 
exfoliates in thick plates. 
Main branches.—Medium long; slender; scraggly, much like Drake. Branch- 
ing angle moderately acute. Wood brittle. Bark brownish red or yellowish 
red; rough on old branches; exfoliates in coarse flakes. 
Twigs.—Moderately short, slender, willowy,» flexible.. Bark: thick, tender, 
brittle; green, turning reddish in autumn; with much bloom. 
