Juglandaceae (Walnut Family)

     7 Genera (2 on Campus)

     60 species
 
 

I. Leaves

     A. Deciduous

     B. Alternate

     C. Pinnately compound

     D. Estipulate

     E. More or less aromatic
 
 

II. Flowers

     A. Monoecious

     B. Axillary staminate aments

     C. Terminal pistillate solitary/spikes
 
 

II. Fruit

     A. Drupaceous Nut with indehiscent or dehiscent  husk
 
 

IV. Economic Importance

     A. Lumber

          1. Juglans -> Cabinet wood

          2. Carya -> structural strength

     B.  Edible fruits

     C. Fruit husks & bark -> yellow dyes & tannins
 
 

V. Range

     A. N.,C.,S America; West Indies;S. Europe;S.,SE Asia
 
 
 
 
 
 

Generic comparison
 
 

I.  Juglans (Walnut)

     Latin Jovis glans = nut of Jupiter
 
 

     A. Chambered Pith

     B. Fruit husk indehiscent
 
 

II. Carya (Hickory)

     Greek for Walnut
 
 

     A. Homogeneous Pith

     B. Fruit husk usually dehisces along 4 sutures
 
 
 
 
 
 

Species comparison
 
 

Juglans
 
 

I. J. nigra (Black Walnut)
 
 

     A. 9-23 ovate-lanceolate toothed leaflets

     B. Spherical, glabrous or finely pubescent fruit

     C. Nut corrugations rounded, in groups of 1 or 2

     D. Pale brown/buff pith

     E. Dark brown/black, thin interlaced ridges

     F. Wood:  dark brown, medium luster & texture, uneven figure
 
 

II. J. cinerea (Butternut, White Walnut) 

 

     A. 11-17 oblong-lanceolate toothed leaflets

     B. Ellipsoid/ovoid pubescent fruit

     C. Nut corrugations sharp, in groups of 2-5

     D. Chocolate pith

     E. Ashy gray, broad interlaced ridges
 
 

III. J. regia (English/Persian Walnut) 

     [royal]
 
 

     A. 7-9 entire leaflets

     B. Nut smooth, in groups 1-3

     C. Silver gray bark

     D. Typically grafted onto J. hindsii stock

     E. Wood:  White, medium luster & texture, uneven figure
 
 

IV. J. alanthifolia (Japanese Walnut)
 
 

     A. 11-17 toothed leaflets

     B. Up to 20 ovoid Nuts on long raceme covered with sticky hairs
 
 
 
 
 
 

Carya
 
 

Section Apocarya (Pecan hickories)

     Bud scales valvate
 
 

I. C. illinoinensis (Pecan) 

     A. 9-17 serrate/doubly serrate falcate leaflets

     B. Ellipsoidal, husk 4-winged from base to apex

     C. Sweet seed

     D. Wood:  Reddish brown, low luster, course texture, uneven

          figure
 
 

II. C. cordiformis (Bitternut hickory)

     [heart-shaped]

     A. Sulfer yellow, scurfy pubescent bud scales

     B. Globose/ellipsoidal, husk 4-winged from middle to apex

     C. Bitter seed
 
 

Section  Carya (True hickories)
 
 

Wood:  Light brown, low luster, course texture, uneven figure
 
 

I. C. ovata (Shagbark hickory) 

     [ovate-shaped]
 
 

     A. Long thin vertical plates seperating from trunk at ends

     B. 5 leaflets
 
 

II. C. laciniosa (Shellbark hickory)

     [shaggy]
 
 

     A. Long thin vertical plates seperating from trunk at ends

     B. 7 leaflets