Juglans regia

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Juglans regia, commonly known as the Persian walnut, English walnut, Carpathian walnut, or Common walnut, is a species of walnut native to the region stretching from the Balkans eastward to the Himalayas and southwest China. It is widely cultivated across Europe.

Description[edit | edit source]

Juglans regia is a large, deciduous tree attaining heights of 25–35 m, and a trunk up to 2 m diameter, commonly with a short trunk and broad crown. The bark is smooth, olive-brown when young and silvery-grey on older branches. The leaves are alternately arranged, 25–40 cm long, odd-pinnate with 5–9 leaflets. The largest leaflets are the three at the apex, 10–18 cm long and 6–8 cm broad; the basal pair of leaflets are much smaller, 5–8 cm long. The male flowers are in drooping catkins 5–10 cm long, and the female flowers are terminal, in clusters of two to five, ripening in the autumn into a fruit with a green, semi-fleshy husk and a brown, corrugated nut.

Cultivation and uses[edit | edit source]

The Juglans regia tree produces high-quality timber and is widely cultivated for its delicious and nutritious nuts. The nuts are rich in oil, and are widely eaten both fresh and in cookery. Walnut oil is expensive and consequently is used sparingly; most often in salad dressing. Walnuts are also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, and have been shown to have considerable health benefits.

History[edit | edit source]

The Juglans regia is believed to have been cultivated in Europe from at least 1000 BC. The Greek botanist, Theophrastus, wrote about the walnut in the fourth century BC; he said that the Greeks called it the 'Persian Nut' because the Persians ate it in large quantities.

Conservation[edit | edit source]

While Juglans regia is widely cultivated, it is considered endangered in its native range due to habitat loss and over-exploitation. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this valuable species.


This tree-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.



This nut-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.

WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD