| The Black Walnut, scientifically known as Juglans nigra, | | | | Uses |
| is a flowering tree that belongs to the hickory family. | | | | The Black Walnut has many uses, from its wood to its |
| This species of tree is native to eastern North | | | | nut. The nuts from these trees are used commercially |
| America. It grows mainly in riparian zones, from places | | | | all over the United States. The nutmeats have a |
| such as south Ontario, South Dakota, Georgia, central | | | | distinctive, robust, natural flavour and crunch, which |
| Texas and northern Florida. | | | | makes it a good food ingredient. It is used widely in |
| Appearance | | | | banking, confection and ice cream. |
| This tree is a large deciduous species that can grow | | | | Producers use these walnuts in many traditional treats |
| to heights of forty feet. If it faces forest competition, it | | | | like cookies, cakes, pies and fudge during fall holidays. |
| will develop a tall, clear bole. Unlike the open-grown | | | | The fact that this nut has a strong nutritional profile |
| form, it doesn't have a short bole with a broad crown. | | | | means that it used in many foods such as fish, chicken, |
| The Black Walnut has a grey-black bark which is | | | | pork, salads, vegetables and pasta dishes. This walnut |
| deeply furrowed. The centre of the twigs has air | | | | has a high unsaturated fat percentage and protein but |
| spaces in it. The leaves are alternate and pinnate, with | | | | has no cholesterol, making it quite healthy. |
| the largest leaves being found in the centre. | | | | The Black Walnut is highly valuable due to its true, |
| Flowers and fruits | | | | dark-coloured heartwood. Although it is strong and |
| The flowers of this tree are monoecious. The male | | | | heavy, it can be easily split and worked. Walnut wood |
| flowers form drooping catkins that are around ten | | | | has been used throughout history for making furniture, |
| centimetres long while the female flowers are terminal | | | | paddles, flooring, coffins, gunstocks and many other |
| and are found on short spikes towards the twig's end. | | | | woodwork products. It is so important that walnut |
| They are yellow green in colour and bloom | | | | poachers are being tracked down. The density of this |
| somewhere around late spring. They are found in | | | | tree's wood makes it lighter than oak wood. |
| clusters of two to five and ripen during autumn into a | | | | The seeds give out a meat that can be converted into |
| fruit that has a greenish-brown, semi-fleshy husk | | | | a brownish-black dye. This was used by early settlers |
| surround a brown, corrugated nut. The entire fruit, with | | | | to dye their hair. Extracts of the outer soft part of the |
| the husk included, falls in October. The seed is quite | | | | fruit are used even today as a natural dye for some |
| small is extremely hard. This nut has sweet, oily meat | | | | handicrafts. The walnut has tannins in it that act as a |
| within it that is edible. It matures from near late summer | | | | mordant, making the dyeing process easier. It is used |
| to fall. These trees usually crop more heavily every | | | | as a wood stain or as dark ink. |
| alternate year. | | | | |