Juglandaceae

Juglandaceae is a family of trees, or sometimes shrubs, known as the walnut family. The family is named after the type genus Juglans. The family comprises about 60 species across seven genera, which show a pattern of being dioecious trees with catkins.

Description

Members of the Juglandaceae family are trees or shrubs comprising about 60 species. They are deciduous and possess aromatic foliage. The leaves are usually alternate, but opposite in some species. They are pinnately compound, or ternate, and usually glandular.

Taxonomy

The family Juglandaceae was first described by the French botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1807. The family is placed in the order Fagales and includes seven extant genera, with a total of about 60 species. The largest genera are Carya (hickories) and Juglans (walnuts).

Distribution and habitat

Members of the Juglandaceae family are found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with most species in North America, and some in Europe and Asia. They are typically found in rich or wet soils, often in riparian zones.

Uses

Many species in the Juglandaceae family are economically important for their nuts, wood, and in some cases, for their sap. For example, the walnut and the pecan are important nut crops.

See also

• List of Juglandaceae genera

External links

• Juglandaceae in the Flora of North America
• Juglandaceae in the Flora of China

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