Juglans cinerea

Juglans cinerea, commonly known as the Butternut or White Walnut, is a species of walnut native to the eastern United States and southeast Canada. Its natural range extends from New Brunswick to Georgia, west to Minnesota and Oklahoma.

Description

The Juglans cinerea is a deciduous tree growing to 20 m tall, rarely 30 m, and 40–80 cm stem diameter, with light gray bark. The leaves are pinnate, 40–70 cm long, with 11–17 leaflets, each leaflet 5–10 cm long. The whole leaf is downy-pubescent, and a somewhat brighter, yellower green than many other tree leaves. The flowers are inconspicuous yellow-green catkins produced in spring at the same time as the new leaves appear.

Distribution and Habitat

The Juglans cinerea is found in rich, well-drained soils of hillsides and streambanks in mixed hardwood forests. The range of the Juglans cinerea extends east to New Brunswick, and from southern Quebec west to Minnesota, south to northern Alabama and southwest to northern Arkansas.

Uses

The Juglans cinerea produces a sweet, oily, edible nut. The nuts are usually used in baking and making candies, providing a rich, distinctive flavor. The wood of the tree is light-weight and soft, and has been used for a variety of purposes including furniture, paneling, dowels, and even pulp for paper production.

Conservation Status

The Juglans cinerea is listed as a species of special concern and is considered endangered in several states due to the Butternut canker, a disease caused by the fungus Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum. The disease has spread rapidly throughout the range of the Juglans cinerea and is most severe in the northern part of the range.

See Also

• Juglans
• Walnut
• Endangered Species

References

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Juglans cinerea

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  Butternut nut

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  Fossil white walnut in glacial sediments, Michigan

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  Dead Butternuts