Walnut

Walnut
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Juglandales[?] Family: Juglandaceae[?] Genus: Juglans
Species
Juglans ailanthifolia Carr. - Japanese walnut Juglans boliviana Dode - Bolivian walnut Juglans californica S. Wats. - California walnut Juglans cinerea L. - butternut Juglans hindsii Jepson - N. California walnut Juglans jamaicensis C. DC. - W. Indian walnut Juglans major Heller - Arizona black walnut Juglans microcarpa Berl. - little walnut Juglans neotropica Diels - Andean walnut Juglans nigra L. - black walnut Juglans regia L. - English walnut Hybrids Juglans X bixbyi Rehd. - Bixby walnut Juglans X intermedia Carr. - intermediate walnut Juglans X quadrangulata Rehd. Reference: [1] (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19248) as of 2003-03-13

The Walnut is any tree of the genus Juglans which belong to the walnut family, or Juglandaceae[?]. Probably the two best-known members of the walnut family are the English walnut, Juglans regia and the American black walnut, Juglans nigra.

The English walnut is a fast-growing tree compared to other trees in its family. Therefore, walnut wood is a soft material compared to oak. The black walnut is slower-growing and the wood harder, is highly valued for its durability and unique colour. The American butternut, Juglans cinerea, is similar to black walnut in many ways, but the wood is much weaker.

Black walnut hulls are also used as a dye source, yielding a rich brown color.

The nuts of all three species named above, as well as other species, are edible, but the walnuts commonly available in stores are the English walnut. A horticultural variety selected for hardiness in temperate zones is sometimes known as the Carpathian walnut.